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Locking in Cheap UK Imports With a Freight Forwarding Partner

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CHEAPER IMPORTS INTO THE UK
AUTHORBrian DaiFounder & General Manager
LAST UPDATED / CHECKEDJanuary 2, 2025Operational details should be reconfirmed before booking.
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You can guarantee competitive cheap UK imports with a China freight forwarder even after Brexit. The economic uncertainty in the UK has made many businesses harder to run and some are saying they are less competitive. We aim to change this by giving you the expertise and help that will make all the difference.

Foresmart experts will help you get products into the UK for less. This will help you protect your margins and make your business more competitive in the global market when the UK economy seems to have stagnated through no fault of your own.

How to import cheaply into the UK from China?

A skilled China freight forwarder will lock in prices so you can enjoy cheap UK Imports. Our goal is to make your business more competitive in the post-Brexit world. We will do it by taking care of a wide range of logistics and import tasks:

  • We will free up your in-house team from time-consuming customs paperwork.

  • We will make payments on time and without delay to all relevant parties.

  • We will track and monitor the status of each shipment you make from China.

  • We will introduce packing inspections into your delivery chain to reduce losses. 

  • We will take care of storage, warehousing, and packaging to reduce breakages.

Combining all the above makes sure you can import into the UK for less. It is ideal when you want to build a lucrative UK import business, irrespective of the economic outlook. Connecting with our experts is the next step you need to take.

What are the tariffs on UK imports?

Your new China freight forwarder partner will guide you through everything involved with post-Brexit tariffs. It may have become more expensive to trade with the EU, but Chinese relations remain on a firm footing.

UK importers will need to pay import tax, customs duties, and 20% VAT on applicable products. We can guide you through the specifics relating to your individual shipment. This is the best way to budget correctly for all the costs involved.

We would also like to tell you that post-Brexit trade has been highly uncertain. The result is a large amount of conflicting information online. The best approach is always to approach a skilled Chinese forwarding agent who speaks your language. Our bilingual import agents will guide you through everything you need to know.

It’s a much simpler approach than trying to find the latest information by yourself. At the time of writing, the average tariff levied by HMRC in the UK was 4.2%.

UK tax and duties

What should you import from China to the UK?

There is a wide range of choices when you want to make money importing products from China. China is currently the UK’s 5th biggest trading partner with over 75,000 UK businesses importing from China. Common requests that we import into the UK daily include:

  • Seasonal clothing and accessories — Chinese clothing manufacturers have long had positive relationships with professional British importers.

  • Electrical devices and gadgets — a constantly expanding inventory makes this a very lucrative option to consider importing into the UK today.

  • Car parts and car accessories — thousands of UK wholesalers currently order their baseline stock from China.

  • Home decor items and ornaments — the larger the order, the more you will make per unit sold in the UK market because of bulk discounts.

  • Telecoms equipment — securing bulk discounts from a Chinese factory will help increase your margins while maintaining quality.

Established businesses, entrepreneurs, and aspiring startups can all benefit from affordable and cheap UK imports. Aligning with the right strategic partner is key. Our mission is to show you what we can do so that you never have to worry about a thing. Ideal when you want to secure your margins for many financial quarters to come.

Is the China-UK import process lengthy?

Cheap UK imports become useless if they take so long that you run out of stock. Studies show that over 70% of one-time buyers instantly go elsewhere if you run out of stock. Brexit has created several rolling shortages in the last 2-3 years.

Everything from haulage and petrol to tomatoes and game consoles has seen dips in availability at one time or another. This is very frustrating when you’re working all the hours of the day to run your business.

Our freight forwarding specialists will try to make sure your UK import business never runs out of stock. Here are the key details you need to be aware of so you can plan accordingly:

  • Exact shipping and delivery times will vary according to your shipment.

  • Sea freight will typically take 3-4 weeks but can be longer because of post-Brexit port delays.

  • Air freight is much faster and can go door-to-door in as little as 7 days.

The best approach is to connect with our bilingual Chinese export team, who will always be happy to help. They will guide you through everything you need to know for your planning. They will also be able to give you accurate pricing so that you can budget effectively when you want to build a lucrative UK import business in the shadow of Brexit.

Does Brexit impact cheap UK imports?

The best way to answer this question is to get help from an experienced China freight forwarder. We would like to make you aware of the following key facts and figures:  

  • The UK economy would have grown by an extra 2.5% if Brexit hadn’t happened.

  • Tariffs and HS codes in many countries have been changed.

Brexit has triggered economic uncertainty in the UK. For this reason, we prefer to direct you toward our skilled bilingual export agents rather than list the current figures.

In our experience, all printing figures would do is add to the large amount of conflicting information online. Changes in leadership or government can quickly make these figures obsolete from one day to the next.

What can’t you import from China cheaply in the UK?

You cannot use cheap UK imports to gain possession of anything that is currently illegal in the UK. Common examples include firearms, other restricted offensive weapons, certain chemicals, and some forms of medicine.

We will be unable to provide our services if you wish to acquire cheap UK imports that would put you in breach of UK law. We thoroughly advise against doing this under any circumstances.


What does a Chinese freight forwarder do to get through customs? 

When you hire a China freight forwarder, you get a smooth passage right through every stage of Chinese and British customs. This is because we will use our decades of combined experience and miss nothing:

  • The bill of lading will be double-checked and cross-referenced so there are no issues.

  • All customs documentation will be complete, present, and ready for submission.

  • Payments get made and coordinated to all relevant parties along the way.

  • Your shipment status will be accurately monitored at all times.

We also take the time to ensure all necessary equipment is available at both ends. After all, it is no good to get cheap UK imports through customs fast only for them to sit on the dock.

Our agents have the contacts and expertise needed to get things done on the ground when you want to meet your re-stock dates without ever having to lose sleep. It will also help you plan and meet any supplier obligations you have in the UK.

Why hiring a Chinese freight forwarding team means no delays?

Our focus on cheap UK imports combines with our passion for exceeding your expectations. A key part of our job is to solve problems in the background while you focus on what you do best. We do this through a combination of industry expertise and active monitoring. Both are invaluable to UK import businesses scaling in the post-Brexit world.

Our proactive approach guarantees that any driver or equipment shortages on the UK side never slow you down. We make a commitment to get your products to their final destination on time, and we intend to keep it.

Please contact our experts with anything related to obtaining cheap UK imports from China. We are available to answer all of the questions or queries you may have. We can also guide you through delivery times, prices, and import restrictions. This is ideal when you want to navigate all the post-Brexit uncertainty in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I secure cheap UK imports today?

Cheap UK imports are certainly possible in the post-Brexit era, but care needs to be taken. We say this because businesses who have paid too much for standard services regularly contact us. Our UK import specialists can get your goods out of China for a fair, competitive, and transparent price. Just what’s needed when it’s time to build the future of your business the right way.

What will stop me from importing cheaply into the UK?

Failing to hire a skilled China freight forwarder will likely cause you issues straightaway. Our skills and expertise allow you to lock in low import charges and faster delivery times.

Trying to do everything by yourself is never as cheap as it first appears. You will spend so much time and effort that the savings soon disappear. Making mistakes on any of the complex documentation can cause your shipment to be delayed for weeks.

What should I do about UK import tariffs from China?

We recommend businesses who need cheap UK imports never try to circumvent the global customs system. While you may not want to pay tariffs on goods from China, there is no use in trying to avoid them.

Our experts will make sure everything is in order and fully legal. It’s the only way to give yourself the peace of mind that makes the difference.

Brian Dai, Founder and General Manager of Foresmart
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian Dai

Founder & General Manager

Founder and General Manager of Foresmart Forwarding Ltd.; Foresmart’s published author biography states he has worked in freight forwarding since 2007.

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