Sourcing alloy steel wire rod from China
Alloy steel wire rod under heading 7227 has listed UK duty rates of 0% to 50% for China, plus 24.00% residual anti-dumping duty. The main rule is to classify by chemistry and hot-rolled coil form; steel quota relief does not remove anti-dumping duty. Cambridge China Bridge sources alloy steel wire rod.
Duty, steel quotas and anti-dumping
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7227 covers hot-rolled bars and rods of other alloy steel in irregularly wound coils. These are wire rod coils, rather than straight bars or finished drawn wire. High-speed steel and silico-manganese steel lines show 0% third-country duty; the remaining lines show 50% and are marked for the steel measure.
Every supplied line lists 24.00% residual anti-dumping duty for China. No countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control is recorded in the supplied extract. For steel-measure lines, ask your broker about quota availability: anti-dumping remains payable within the tariff-free quota and cumulates with the steel duty outside quota.
Confirm the commodity code using the mill chemistry, processing history and coil form. Do not classify from the supplier's grade name alone. Before accepting a lower exporter-specific anti-dumping rate, have your broker check the producer and supporting invoice declaration.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-rolled high-speed steel wire rod in coils | 7227 10 00 00 | 0% | 24.00% residual anti-dumping |
| Hot-rolled silico-manganese steel wire rod in coils | 7227 20 00 00 | 0% | 24.00% residual anti-dumping |
| Boron alloy steel wire rod meeting the tariff composition definition | 7227 90 10 00 | 50% outside quota | 24.00% residual anti-dumping |
| Alloy steel wire rod meeting the listed carbon and chromium composition | 7227 90 50 00 | 50% outside quota | 24.00% residual anti-dumping |
| Other hot-rolled alloy steel wire rod in coils | 7227 90 95 00 | 50% outside quota | 24.00% residual anti-dumping |
Chemistry, drawability and coil handling
Specify the intended use, such as wire drawing, spring manufacture or bearing components. Agree the steel grade, chemical limits, delivery condition, rod diameter and ovality tolerance. For drawing, agree surface quality, decarburisation limits and the tests needed to establish suitability for your process.
Record coil weight, inside diameter, outside diameter and packaging so the coils fit your handling and pay-off equipment. Request heat-linked mill inspection records with chemistry and relevant mechanical results. Agree how samples will be selected and how disputed results will be checked before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of alloy steel wire rod meeting the listed composition under 7227 10 00 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,000, so it is £4,000. 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: match coil tags and heat numbers to the packing list and mill records; investigate mixed or untraceable heats.
Dimensions: measure rod diameter and ovality around sampled coils; check coil dimensions against handling equipment.
Surface: inspect for seams, laps, heavy scale and rust; arrange decarburisation checks where the downstream process needs them.
Performance: verify chemistry and agreed mechanical properties on representative samples; trial drawing or forming before releasing the lot.
What goes wrong
A commercially similar grade can have different chemistry and fall under a different tariff line. Budgeting only for the ordinary duty misses the residual anti-dumping charge. Assuming quota relief also removes anti-dumping understates the landed cost. Check the declaration basis with your broker and use our duty and VAT guide.
Surface seams can open during drawing, decarburisation can affect finished-part performance, and tangled coils can interrupt feeding. Keep heat traceability through storage and production. Agree acceptance criteria and a sample trial before shipment, supported by factory verification.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on alloy steel wire rod from China?
The supplied tariff extract lists 0% for high-speed and silico-manganese steel, and 50% for other lines, plus 24.00% residual anti-dumping duty throughout. Check steel quota availability for the 50% lines.
Does a steel quota remove wire rod anti-dumping duty?
No. Anti-dumping duty remains payable within the tariff-free quota and cumulates with the steel measure's duty when quota is exhausted.
Can my Chinese supplier claim a lower anti-dumping rate?
A specified producer's rate requires a valid commercial invoice with the prescribed declaration. Ask your broker to verify eligibility; without the invoice or declaration, the residual rate applies.
What should I check before drawing imported wire rod?
Check heat traceability, chemistry, diameter, ovality, surface seams and agreed decarburisation limits. Trial the material through your drawing process before releasing the lot.