Sourcing automotive steering racks from China

UK duty on steering racks and components

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8708 covers motor vehicle parts and accessories. The supplied steering-component lines carry 2%. Our published aftermarket guide lists complete steering gear under 8708 94 35 00 at 4%; that line is absent from the supplied snapshot. The table therefore distinguishes assembly racks from separate components and related steering-system parts. See the wider aftermarket parts guide. For brake components, see our automotive brake disc sourcing guide. For exhaust components, see our exhaust silencer sourcing guide. For steering wheels, see our automotive steering wheel sourcing guide. For suspension components, see our automotive anti-roll bar sourcing guide.

No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded for the table lines. The 0.00 % suspension under 8708 94 20 00 is limited to rack steering gear in aluminium housing with homokinetic hinges for manufacturing goods of Chapter 87. Its footnote excludes mixtures, preparations or products comprising different components containing these products. Do not assume an aftermarket rack qualifies. Confirm the construction, application and assembly use with your broker using commodity code guidance.

The tariff attaches an ozone-depleting-substance restriction on entry into free circulation and a DCMS Export Licence measure to these lines. Ask your customs broker to confirm the declaration requirement for goods from China, including evidence that the goods neither contain nor rely on ozone-depleting substances, and the relevance of the export measure. Importing or exporting ozone-depleting substances to or from Great Britain requires a licence.

Specify the rack by vehicle and steering system

Order against the original part reference, vehicle application and approved drawing or sample. State right-hand or left-hand drive, mounting centres, input spline, rack travel, tie-rod threads and supplied accessories. Specify manual, hydraulic or electric assistance, and whether the unit is new or remanufactured. Agree acceptance criteria for backlash, operating torque, leakage and durability.

For hydraulic racks, fix port threads, seal materials, fluid compatibility and the test procedure. For electric racks, identify the motor, connectors, controller compatibility and any calibration work expected after fitting. Obtain test records that identify the actual rack variant. General product safety guidance for Great Britain requires consumer products to be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of replacement steering-rack components for a parts distributor under 8708 94 99 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £31,500. Duty at 2% is £630. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,130, so it is £6,426. Import taxes total £7,056; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £630 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fitment: compare mounting positions, input spline, rack travel and tie-rod interfaces with the approved drawing and application sample.

Operation: check smooth movement through the agreed travel, backlash and operating torque; witness hydraulic leakage or electric-assistance tests as applicable.

Condition: examine housings, seals, boots and clamps for damage, corrosion, contamination and poor seating; check protective caps on hydraulic ports.

Identity: match the rack, box and packing list to the ordered part reference and batch; repeat these checks on arrival before releasing stock. See quality inspection guidance.

What goes wrong

A similar-looking rack can have different mounting positions, spline geometry or hydraulic connections. An electric unit may fit mechanically but have incompatible connectors or controller settings. Incorrect preload, damaged seals and poorly fitted boots can leave a rack stiff, loose or leaking. Approve the exact variant and agree functional checks before production.

Mixed boxes and missing batch records make complaints harder to investigate. Keep test records and batch references linked to dispatch records, and hold suspect stock while the cause is investigated. The official vehicle aftermarket code of practice addresses potential safety defects in parts supplied in the UK.

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.