Sourcing aircraft elevator assemblies from China

Zero duty on aircraft elevator assemblies

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, the relevant aircraft-parts lines under heading 8807 carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension. Aircraft elevator assemblies are pitch-control surfaces. The table shows assembly variants sharing the relevant codes, rather than separate tariff lines for each side.

The tariff attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls to both listed codes, and an ozone-depleting-substance restriction on entry into free circulation to 8807 30 00 99. Obtain a supplier declaration covering gas content and dependence, then ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirement for the Chinese goods. The record also lists a cultural-object export licence measure; ask the broker to confirm its relevance.

Send the drawing, aircraft application, assembly contents and intended use to your broker to confirm the commodity code, including eligibility for the aircraft-use line. The tail assemblies guide covers the wider product family.

Specify the elevator and its aircraft application

Identify the aircraft model, part number, drawing revision and handedness. Define whether the assembly includes hinges, bearings, control horns, trim tabs and balance weights. Specify skin and core materials, bonding or riveting details, surface treatment, hinge datums and packaging supports. Set acceptance criteria from the aircraft drawing and maintenance data.

For certified civil aircraft, buy from approved sources with an authorised release certificate from an approved production or maintenance organisation, as described in the published aircraft-parts guide. Agree the release paperwork before ordering. Ask the intended installer to review the proposed part and documents before manufacture.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: a matched pair of light-aeroplane elevator assemblies under 8807 30 00 99, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £15,800, so it is £3,160. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and documents: match the assembly's part number and serial identification to the drawing, order and authorised release certificate; retain the certificate with the part.

Hinges and interfaces: measure hinge alignment, bearing fits, control-horn position and attachment holes against the specified datums; check movement using an agreed fixture.

Structure and balance: inspect skins, rivets, bonded edges and core condition; review the specified inspection reports and check mass and balance against the approved acceptance data.

Arrival condition: inspect the crate supports, trailing edges, coating and exposed interfaces for crushing, distortion, moisture and corrosion. Record damage before unpacking fully. Use the inspection guide to plan checks.

What goes wrong

A similar outline can conceal the wrong drawing revision, handedness, hinge spacing or control-horn geometry. Paint and repairs can alter balance; unsupported packing can distort the trailing edge. Require a dimensional report tied to the actual assembly and packing photographs showing how it is supported.

A factory inspection report cannot replace the authorised release certificate needed for fitting to a certified civil aircraft. Isolate assemblies with missing or mismatched release paperwork. For the tariff gas controls, obtain a composition statement rather than assume that an aircraft-parts description settles the declaration.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.