Alloy steel bars and rods from China
Alloy steel bars and rods of heading 7228 from China have a 0% base rate, but many hot-rolled and cold-finished lines fall under the UK steel trade measure: 50% duty from 1 July 2026 unless tariff quota is available. Hot-rolled lines also carry 22.5% anti-dumping duty on high-fatigue-performance rebar; other bars declare an exemption code. Cambridge China Bridge sources alloy bar.
Alloy steel bars from China: 0% base duty, but many hot-rolled and cold-finished lines face the 50% UK steel measure outside quota. Rebar AD, grades, example.
0%, 50% outside quota, and a rebar duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, bars and rods of alloy steel other than stainless carried a 0% third-country rate on goods from China for high-speed steel bars that are hot-rolled or forged, silico-manganese steel, forged bars, most tool steel bars, other bars, hollow drill bars and most angles and sections. Other lines are in the UK steel trade measure that replaced the safeguard on 1 July 2026: hot-rolled round bars of 80 mm or more, most hot-rolled bars under 80 mm and flats, cold-formed or cold-finished bars including bearing steel, other high-speed steel bars and hot-rolled angles and sections carried 50%, with 0% tariff quotas alongside.
Goods from China use the residual quota shared by countries without their own allocation, allocated by HMRC first come, first served in quarterly periods, and goods contracted before 14 March 2026 and imported by 30 September 2026 can claim a transitional exemption with document 9Y16. Separately, the hot-rolled lines of 7228 30 carry anti-dumping duty of 22.5% on high-fatigue-performance concrete reinforcing bar from China; other bars on those lines are declared with additional code 8W01 and pay none. Confirm the commodity code from the section, finish and steel grade.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-speed steel bars, hot-rolled or forged | 7228 10 20 00 / 7228 10 50 00 | 0% | None |
| Other high-speed steel bars | 7228 10 90 00 | 50%; 0% within quota | None |
| Hot-rolled tool steel bars | 7228 30 20 00 | 0% | 22.5% on HFP rebar only; 0% with 8W01 |
| Hot-rolled round bars under 80 mm, other | 7228 30 69 99 | 50%; 0% within quota | 22.5% on HFP rebar only; 0% with 8W01 |
| Cold-finished bars, including bearing steel | 7228 50 20 00 to 7228 50 80 00 | 50%; 0% within quota (except 7228 50 61 00 at 0%) | None |
| Other bars, forged or other | 7228 40 90 00 / 7228 60 20 90 | 0% | None |
| Hollow drill bars and rods | 7228 80 00 00 | 0% | None |
Grades, standards and mill certificates
Alloy bar is bought by grade and condition. Quenching and tempering steels are specified to BS EN 10083-3, case-hardening steels to BS EN 10084, spring steels to BS EN 10089, tool steels to BS EN ISO 4957 and ball and roller bearing steels to ISO 683-17, and hot-rolled round bar dimensions and tolerances to BS EN 10060. Each lot should come with a BS EN 10204 type 3.1 inspection certificate giving the heat number, chemistry, heat treatment condition and mechanical test results.
For shafts, gears and pressure parts, ask for ultrasonic testing of bars to BS EN 10308 at the quality class your drawing needs, and for grain size and inclusion ratings where the application demands them. Carbon steel wire rod and bars are covered in our steel wire guide.
Worked duty example
A hypothetical order, not a quote: 20 tonnes of hot-rolled alloy steel round bar under 80 mm, not rebar, under 7228 30 69 99, bought for £18,000 free on board with £2,000 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £20,000. Declared with additional code 8W01 as not high-fatigue-performance rebar, no anti-dumping duty applies. If quota is available, customs duty is 0% and import VAT is 20% of £20,000, or £4,000. If the quarter's quota has run out, the 50% rate adds £10,000 and VAT rises to £6,000, so the same bars cost £10,000 more to land. See UK import duty and VAT for the method.
What goes wrong
The costliest failures are commercial: bars land after the quarter's quota is used and pay 50%, the transitional exemption is claimed without the contract evidence, or the anti-dumping exemption code is missing and the declaration is queried. Technical failures follow: chemistry at the edge of the grade so hardening response varies, internal defects that show up only when a shaft is machined or ultrasonic tested, decarburised surfaces, and bars that are bent or out of tolerance on diameter.
Check quota availability with your broker before shipment and keep the contract dates for any 9Y16 claim; match each heat number on the bars to the 3.1 certificate; test chemistry and hardness on a sample from each heat at an independent lab; specify ultrasonic testing to BS EN 10308 where it matters; and measure diameter, ovality and straightness at inspection.
Cambridge China Bridge sources alloy steel bar for engineering and manufacturing buyers, starting with the mill's grade capability, certificates and testing. See how we verify a mill before you order.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on alloy steel bars from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, the base rate is 0%, but many hot-rolled and cold-finished lines pay 50% under the UK steel trade measure unless quota is available.
Is there anti-dumping duty on alloy steel bar?
Only on high-fatigue-performance rebar, at 22.5% on the hot-rolled 7228 30 lines; other bars declare additional code 8W01 and pay none.
What is document code 9Y16?
The transitional exemption for goods contracted before 14 March 2026 and imported by 30 September 2026, backed by contract evidence.
Which certificate should come with alloy bar?
A BS EN 10204 type 3.1 inspection certificate with heat number, chemistry, condition and mechanical results.