Sourcing air conditioners from China: F-gas rules
Wall, split and window air conditioners from China pay 2% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. HFC pre-charged units carry an F-gas control: above 100 tonnes CO2 equivalent a year the importer needs quota authorisations and a declaration of conformity, and single splits under 3 kg with GWP above 750 are banned from 2025. Cambridge China Bridge sources air conditioning units.
Air conditioners pay 2% UK duty from China. Pre-charged units need F-gas quota authorisations above 100 tonnes CO2e a year, and some refrigerants are banned.
Duty and the F-gas control
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, self-contained and split-system air conditioners for fixing to a window, wall, ceiling or floor, and other air conditioning machines, carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The lines pre-charged with hydrofluorocarbons also carry an import control on fluorinated greenhouse gases.
The tariff splits each type by whether it is pre-charged with HFCs, so the refrigerant decides the commodity code as well as the rules.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-contained window or wall units, pre-charged with HFCs | 8415 10 10 10 | 2% | None |
| Split-system units, pre-charged with HFCs | 8415 10 90 10 | 2% | None |
| Other units with refrigerating unit and reversal valve (heat pumps), pre-charged with HFCs | 8415 81 00 91 | 2% | None |
| Other units with a refrigerating unit, pre-charged with HFCs | 8415 82 00 91 | 2% | None |
| Units without a refrigerating unit | 8415 83 00 90 | 2% | None |
Quota authorisations and the declaration
GOV.UK says an importer only needs to register on the F gas service and obtain quota authorisations when importing HFCs equivalent to 100 tonnes of CO2 or more in a calendar year, and that above that level the importer of pre-charged refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump equipment must certify, in a declaration of conformity, that the HFCs are covered by a quota authorisation or delegation. Pre-charged equipment cannot be imported without enough authorisations, and the declaration is kept for five years.
Work out the CO2 equivalent of each shipment from the refrigerant type and charge on the nameplate before booking, because a container of split units can pass the threshold quickly.
Refrigerant bans
GOV.UK lists the product bans that apply to new equipment. Single split systems containing less than 3 kg of refrigerant are banned from 2025 where the refrigerant's global warming potential is above 750, and movable air conditioners are already banned above a GWP of 150. Ask the factory for the refrigerant, its GWP and the charge for every model, and choose models that meet the bans.
Installation of split systems also needs a qualified F-gas technician, which is part of the customer's plan, not the import.
Performance and after-sales
Ask for the cooling and heating capacity and efficiency test data for each model, the noise level of indoor and outdoor units, and the electrical safety evidence, and check nameplates at inspection. Spare parts, remotes and PCBs should be in the first order; WEEE obligations apply.
Cambridge China Bridge sources air conditioning units, with the refrigerant, F-gas quota position and after-sales parts planned before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on air conditioners from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, window, wall, split and other air conditioners carried 2% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Do I need F-gas quota to import air conditioners?
If the HFCs in pre-charged equipment you import reach 100 tonnes CO2 equivalent or more in a calendar year, you need quota authorisations and a declaration of conformity.
Which split air conditioners are banned?
Single split systems with less than 3 kg of refrigerant are banned from 2025 where the refrigerant's GWP is above 750.
What should a factory state for each model?
The refrigerant, its GWP and the charge, plus capacity, efficiency and noise test data and electrical safety evidence.