UK-India trade deal in force since 15 July 2026

UK import duty calculator: India vs China

See the UK duty and VAT on your product from India and from China, live from the official tariff.

Cotton T-shirts today: 12% from China, 0% from India.

Free · no email to see your result · source: UK Trade Tariff

What do you import into the UK?

Popular with importers

You import per year (customs value)

Example · UK import duty

Code 6109 10 00 10

T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted > Of cotton > T-shirts

Made in India

UK-India trade agreement rate

Made in China

12%

Standard UK rate

Duty on £100,000 of imports a year

India£0

China£12,000

About £12,000 less duty a year if made in India

If the goods qualify as Indian origin. Duty only: factory price, freight and quality control also count.

This is an example. Search your own product on the left to see your rates, then get factory options in India for it.

Duty and import VAT in detail

On £100,000 of imports a year
Item	India	China
Import duty	£0	£12,000
Import VAT (20%)	£20,000	£22,400
Duty and VAT	£20,000	£34,400

The Indian rate applies only if the goods meet the agreement’s rules of origin and you hold a proof of origin.
Import VAT is usually recoverable if your company is VAT-registered, so the duty is the real cost difference. A reduced or zero VAT rate applies to some goods under this code.
Check the exact code with your customs broker: the right code decides the rate.

Source: UK Trade Tariff (UK government), read 2026-10-28.

In short

UK import duty = duty rate of the commodity code x customs value, then import VAT (usually 20%) on value plus duty.
Since 15 July 2026, many goods made in India pay 0% UK duty under the UK-India trade agreement, with a proof of origin.
The same goods from China pay the standard UK rate, for example 12% on cotton T-shirts, and sometimes anti-dumping duty.

UK import duty from India vs China on popular products

Standard UK rate for goods made in China, and the rate for goods made in India under the India-UK trade agreement, read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2026-10-28. Click a product to see the detail and your yearly difference.

Product	Code	From India	From China	Sourcing guide
Cotton T-shirts	6109100010	0%	12%	Clothing manufacturers in India
Men’s cotton shirts	6205200090	0%	12%	Clothing manufacturers in India
Women’s cotton dresses	6204420090	0%	12%	Clothing manufacturers in India
Cotton bed linen	6302310000	0%	12%	Home decor and home textile manufacturers in India
Cotton terry towels	6302600090	0%	12%	Home decor and home textile manufacturers in India
Women’s leather shoes	6403999890	0%	6%	Footwear and leather goods manufacturers in India
Leather handbags	4202210090	0%	2%	Footwear and leather goods manufacturers in India
Silver jewellery	7113110000	0%	2%	Jewelry manufacturers in India
Hand-knotted wool carpets	5701101010	0%	0%	Home decor and home textile manufacturers in India
Frozen vannamei shrimp	0306179220	0%	12%	-
Bicycles	8712003090	0%	14%+ anti-dumping up to 48.5% for some producers	Metal and plastic parts manufacturing in India
Wooden furniture	9403609000	0%	0%	Home decor and home textile manufacturers in India
Car parts (other)	8708999790	0%	0%	Metal and plastic parts manufacturing in India
Smartphones	8517130000	0%	0%	Electronics manufacturing in India

The Indian rate requires Indian origin under the agreement and a proof of origin. Rates change: the checker above reads them live.

How UK import duty and VAT are calculated

Commodity code: a 10-digit code that classifies your product. It sets the duty rate, so a wrong code means a wrong rate.
Customs value: in most cases the price of the goods plus shipping and insurance up to the UK border.
Import duty: the rate of the code applied to the customs value. It depends on the origin of the goods, not where they are shipped from.
Import VAT: charged on the customs value plus the duty, usually at 20%. A VAT-registered company can usually recover it, so the duty is the real cost difference between two origins.

The calculator uses the rate of the code you choose and your yearly import value. For one shipment, enter its value instead. Importing into the EU? Use our India-EU trade deal import duty calculator.

What the UK-India trade deal changes for importers

The UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force on 15 July 2026. For many products made in India, the UK duty drops, often to zero, while the same product from China keeps paying the standard rate. On clothing, footwear and home textiles, the gap is often several points of the customs value.

The lower rate is not automatic: the goods must meet the rules of origin, for example be made in India from materials that qualify, and you need a proof of origin for each shipment. A real manufacturer, not a trader reselling goods made elsewhere, is what makes the claim hold.

UK import duty from China

The UK has no trade agreement with China, so goods made in China pay the standard UK rate of their commodity code. Some products also carry anti-dumping or safeguard duties on certain Chinese producers: bicycles, for example, can carry up to 48.5% on top of the standard rate.

Duty is one part of your landed cost. Factory price, freight, lead times and quality control count as much. Our guides on India vs China manufacturing and contract manufacturing in India compare them.

Questions about UK import duty

How do I calculate UK import duty?

Find the commodity code of your product, apply its duty rate to the customs value (usually the price of the goods plus shipping and insurance to the UK), then add import VAT on the value plus the duty. The calculator does this from the live UK tariff.

Is there import duty on goods from India to the UK?

Since the UK-India trade agreement came into force on 15 July 2026, many goods made in India enter the UK at reduced or zero duty, if they meet the rules of origin. Import VAT still applies. The calculator shows the rate for your exact product.

What do I need to claim the lower Indian rate?

Goods must qualify as originating in India under the agreement, and you need a proof of origin, such as an origin statement from the exporter or a certificate of origin. Ask your supplier and customs broker before the first shipment.

Why is the duty from China higher?

The UK has no trade agreement with China, so Chinese goods pay the standard UK rate. Some Chinese products also carry anti-dumping duties, which the calculator flags when they apply.

Where does the data come from?

From the UK Trade Tariff, the official UK government tariff, read live when you search. Always confirm the commodity code with your customs broker: the right code decides the rate.

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