Sourcing aluminium U-channels from China
Aluminium U-channel profiles from China carry 6% ordinary UK duty; in-scope extrusions can also attract anti-dumping duty up to 35.1%. Confirm the section, alloy and exporter before ordering, because a blank remedy field does not establish exemption. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium U-channel profiles.
UK duty on aluminium U-channel profiles
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7604 covers aluminium bars, rods and profiles. For an open alloy U-channel, check 7604 29 90 90 first. The non-alloy profile lines depend on composition and the tariff description. The hollow-profile row is relevant only when the channel design incorporates a closed chamber; an open recess alone is not a hollow section. Confirm the drawing and material through finding your commodity code.
The supplied snapshot shows 6% ordinary duty on the selected lines, blank anti-dumping fields and no attached import controls. However, the published reference guide and official extrusion notice identify an additional anti-dumping measure: 35.1% residual, 15.4% for listed non-sampled cooperating exporters, and individual producer rates. A missing invoice or required declaration results in the residual amount. Have the broker reconcile the blank fields with the applicable measure before declaring the goods.
The snapshot also lists a 0.00 % suspension for narrowly specified hollow board-frame profiles. It is not a general relief for U-channels, and the reference guide explains that suspension of ordinary duty does not remove anti-dumping duty. Cutting, drilling or finishing should not be assumed to establish exemption. See the wider aluminium extrusions guide for the heading's broader scope.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium alloy profiles, including open U-channels | 7604 29 90 90 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Unassembled non-alloy profiles containing not more than 99.3% aluminium | 7604 10 90 80 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Other non-alloy aluminium profiles | 7604 10 90 89 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Hollow alloy profiles, for channel designs incorporating a closed chamber | 7604 21 00 00 | 6% | See the tariff |
Specify the channel opening and mating fit
Supply a section drawing showing internal opening, external width, leg height, base and side-wall thickness, corner radii and cut length. Mark which surfaces locate the mating panel or component. Specify alloy, temper, dimensional tolerances, straightness, twist and cut squareness. Ask for batch mill certificates and agree ownership of any new extrusion die.
State whether dimensions apply before or after anodising or powder coating. Approve the finish colour, thickness and visible faces, then trial an actual mating component in the finished sample. Specify deburring, hole positions, protective interleaving and end protection.
For construction use, ask a compliance adviser to check the intended application, applicable designated standard and performance paperwork. CE marking remains available for construction products placed on the market in Great Britain. Agree the evidence needed before approving a channel for a load-bearing application.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 kg of anodised aluminium alloy U-channel profiles; illustrative FOB and freight values under 7604 29 90 90, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £63,000. Duty at 6% is £3,780. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £66,780, so it is £13,356. Import taxes total £17,136; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £3,780 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure the finished internal opening, leg height, wall thickness and corner radii against the drawing; trial the buyer's mating component.
Shape: check straightness and twist along production lengths, cut squareness, hole positions and burrs during quality inspection, then repeat critical fit checks on arrival.
Material: match batch certificates to alloy and temper, check hardness against the agreed specification and record weight per metre for the duty review.
Finish and packing: measure coating thickness, compare colour with the approved sample and inspect visible faces, interleaving and protected ends for scratches or dents.
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What goes wrong
A channel can match its external width but reject the intended panel because the internal opening is too narrow, corner radii interfere or coating reduces clearance. Thin walls, inward-bent legs, twist and uneven cuts can make assembly inconsistent. Agree acceptance on the finished profile and mating component.
Duty errors arise when the invoiced producer differs from the producer used for the rate check, the declaration is missing or fabrication is assumed to remove the extrusion measure. Keep the drawing, material certificate, producer identity and invoice together for the broker's review.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aluminium U-channels from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 6% ordinary duty. Its anti-dumping fields are blank, but the reference guide identifies additional extrusion duties up to 35.1%; confirm the applicable producer rate with your broker.
Is an aluminium U-channel a hollow profile?
An open U-channel has an open recess. Check the other-profile line first; consider the hollow-profile line only where the section incorporates a closed chamber. Give the broker the cross-section drawing.
Does cutting or anodising avoid extrusion anti-dumping duty?
Do not assume so. The reference guide treats fabrication and exemption as questions to resolve before ordering. Without the required invoice or declaration, the residual anti-dumping amount applies.
Will UK carbon border adjustment affect aluminium U-channels?
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether and when these aluminium lines fall within UK CBAM and what registration requirements apply. Ask suppliers for emissions data and review the UK CBAM guide.