Can a buyer in United Kingdom import from China?

• Commercial invoice and packing list

  Core shipment and valuation documents.

  TypicalSupplier

• Transport document

  Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.

  TypicalCarrier

• Customs declaration

  Filed by the importer or a customs representative under the GB EORI number.

  MandatoryBuyer / broker

• Proof of origin

  Format depends on the applicable agreement, if any.

  ConditionalSupplier

• Product compliance evidence

  Depends on the product code and intended use.

  ConditionalSupplier

Typical and mandatory are kept separate. Each requirement names the responsible party.

The same facet states, sources, evidence dates, missing inputs and transaction context as structured JSON.

{
  "schema_version": "trade-route-answer.v1",
  "kind": "trade_route_answer",
  "context_id": "TR-GB-CN-DD55CC",
  "mode": "third_country",
  "transaction": {
    "buyer": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Buyer in United Kingdom",
      "country": "GB"
    },
    "supplier": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Supplier in China",
      "country": "CN"
    },
    "movement": {
      "ship_from": "CN",
      "origin_country": "CN"
    },
    "goods": {
      "description": null,
      "hs_code": null,
      "end_use": "unknown"
    },
    "payment": {
      "currency": null,
      "bank_jurisdiction": "unknown"
    }
  },
  "verdict": {
    "state": "review",
    "title": "Country route described, coverage incomplete. No conclusion on this transaction yet.",
    "summary": "China to United Kingdom is a third-country movement. Our data does not cover the United Kingdom sanctions regime, so the answer shows the gap instead of assuming ordinary treatment."
  },
  "coverage_summary": "2 established · 4 not checked",
  "facets": [
    {
      "key": "route",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Third-country import into United Kingdom",
      "explanation": "China to United Kingdom crosses a customs border. A customs declaration is filed on entry and the importer needs a GB EORI number.",
      "scope": "Country route only. Says nothing about the goods or the parties.",
      "missing_inputs": [],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "customs-id-gb",
          "source_label": "GOV.UK",
          "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/eori",
          "observed_at": "2026-07-21",
          "source_as_of": "Import mechanics reviewed 2026-07-21"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "restrictions",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "China outside our sanctions register's reviewed coverage",
      "explanation": "Our country-level register holds no programme for China, but it lists only measures we have reviewed and is not exhaustive: silence here is a gap in our coverage, not a finding that no measure exists. UK (OFSI) binds this lane, so their measures on China have to be checked at the authority before anyone relies on this.",
      "scope": "No reviewed coverage for this country in our register",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Check the China country measures at each binding authority (UK (OFSI))",
        "Screen the supplier, its owners, the consignee and the end user"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "un-sc-sanctions",
          "source_label": "United Nations Security Council, sanctions information",
          "source_url": "https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/information",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Current official programme index"
        },
        {
          "source_id": "uk-ofsi",
          "source_label": "UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation",
          "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-financial-sanctions-implementation",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Current official guidance"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "trade_preference",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "No agreement in our register",
      "explanation": "Our register of blocs and bilateral agreements holds nothing for China and United Kingdom. The register is not exhaustive, so this is not a finding that MFN duty applies; check the WTO database before pricing.",
      "scope": "Our agreement register (13 blocs, selected bilateral FTAs)",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Check the WTO RTA database for the exact pair",
        "Add the exact HS code"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "wto-rta-is",
          "source_label": "WTO, Regional Trade Agreements database",
          "source_url": "https://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicMaintainRTAHome.aspx",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live register of notified agreements"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "vat_and_customs",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Import VAT 20% in United Kingdom, GB EORI number required",
      "explanation": "United Kingdom charges import VAT of 20% on goods plus freight plus duty; the importer clears with a GB EORI number. Duty depends on the HS code and is not stated here.",
      "scope": "Standard rate on a B2B import; reduced rates, deferral schemes and duty are outside this statement",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS code for the duty rate"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "vat-gb",
          "source_label": "GOV.UK",
          "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/vat-rates",
          "observed_at": "2026-07-21",
          "source_as_of": "Standard rate reviewed 2026-07-21"
        },
        {
          "source_id": "customs-id-gb",
          "source_label": "GOV.UK",
          "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/eori",
          "observed_at": "2026-07-21",
          "source_as_of": "Import mechanics reviewed 2026-07-21"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "goods",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "Goods not specified",
      "explanation": "Without the exact HS or CN code neither duty nor product rules can be established.",
      "scope": "Product-specific requirements per code",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS or CN code",
        "Describe the product"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "access2markets",
          "source_label": "Access2Markets, My Trade Assistant (tariffs and product requirements by HS code)",
          "source_url": "https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/home",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live product query required"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "company_screening",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "No supplier company selected",
      "explanation": "Country information cannot establish a supplier identity. Select the exact legal entity to screen it.",
      "scope": "No counterparty in scope",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Select or establish the exact legal entity"
      ],
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "documents": [
    {
      "title": "Commercial invoice and packing list",
      "note": "Core shipment and valuation documents.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Typical"
    },
    {
      "title": "Transport document",
      "note": "Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.",
      "responsible_party": "Carrier",
      "requirement": "Typical"
    },
    {
      "title": "Customs declaration",
      "note": "Filed by the importer or a customs representative under the GB EORI number.",
      "responsible_party": "Buyer / broker",
      "requirement": "Mandatory"
    },
    {
      "title": "Proof of origin",
      "note": "Format depends on the applicable agreement, if any.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Conditional"
    },
    {
      "title": "Product compliance evidence",
      "note": "Depends on the product code and intended use.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Conditional"
    }
  ],
  "next_actions": [
    "company_passport",
    "pre_payment_check",
    "landed_cost",
    "alternative_suppliers",
    "rfq"
  ],
  "human_page": "https://hellofapartner.com/can-i-trade/united-kingdom/china"
}