Sourcing base-metal tie pins from China
The relevant tariff lines carry a flat 4% UK duty on goods from China. Confirm applicable UK REACH chemical restrictions for base-metal tie pins with HSE; the products must be safe for consumer use in Great Britain. Specify the pin, retaining back and plating together. Cambridge China Bridge sources base-metal tie pins.
UK duty on base-metal tie pins
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7117 covers imitation jewellery. For base-metal tie pins, the relevant branches distinguish hand-made goods without glass parts from other goods. Both carry 4% duty on goods from China, including base metal plated with precious metal. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. For China-sourced pins containing CITES-listed material, check the necessary British and Chinese permits with the authorities before shipping. Cat and dog fur products are banned from import. Seal products for sale in Great Britain must qualify under the Inuit or other indigenous communities exemption and have a seal catch certificate. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for any animal-derived decoration.
The table shows tie-pin variants, so codes repeat. Confirm the construction and materials through finding your commodity code, rather than choosing a code from a supplier's description alone. The wider tie clips guide covers related accessories.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made base-metal tie pins without glass parts | 7117 19 00 10 | 4% | None |
| Other base-metal tie pins | 7117 19 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify the pin, retaining back and finish
Define a tie pin as a pointed pin that passes through the tie and is secured by a retaining back. Specify the head dimensions, pin length and diameter, base metal, retaining mechanism and any chain or shirt-button anchor. Supply a drawing and approve an assembled sample using the tie fabric you intend to sell it for.
Write the base metal and plating separately. Agree the colour, surface texture, coverage around the pin joint and any protective coating. Specify how securely the head is attached and how the retaining back releases. A photograph cannot show whether the back grips the pin or whether the finished assembly damages the fabric.
Confirm with HSE which UK REACH cadmium, lead and nickel-release restrictions apply to the jewellery, taking account of any direct and prolonged skin contact. Ask for laboratory reports matching the pin, back, base metal and finish, as explained in UK REACH for importers. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must also be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 base-metal tie pins with matching retaining backs under 7117 19 00 90, invoiced at £300 free on board, with £135 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £435. Duty at 4% is £17.40. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £452.40, so it is £90.48. Import taxes total £107.88; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £17.40 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Retention: fit and remove the supplied back, then check that it holds securely during handling and covers the point when assembled.
Fabric: try the assembled pin on representative tie fabric and check for snagging, staining, excessive puncture damage and a bent shaft.
Finish: compare the head, shaft and back with the approved sample; inspect for burrs, loose decoration, exposed base metal and uneven plating.
Packing: check that each pin has its matching back and any agreed chain. Verify product or batch references and producer name and address on the product or packaging where reasonable, as required for traceability.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A retaining back can look correct yet grip poorly because its internal fit differs from the approved sample. Heads can turn or detach at the joint, while rough plating around the shaft can snag fabric. Keep an assembled reference sample and inspect the pin and back together rather than accepting separate component photographs.
A report for a different finish does not establish the chemistry of your order. Compare the report's product identification with the delivered goods, and investigate any change in base metal, plating or decoration before accepting a repeat batch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on base-metal tie pins from China?
The relevant lines carry 4% duty on goods from China in the supplied tariff reading. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. Confirm the code for your construction.
Which commodity code should I use for tie pins?
Check 7117 19 00 10 for hand-made base-metal tie pins without glass parts and 7117 19 00 90 for other base-metal tie pins. Confirm the classification against the actual goods.
Do plated tie pins need chemical testing?
Confirm with HSE which UK REACH chemical restrictions apply to your jewellery. Ask for reports matching your base metal and plating, covering cadmium, lead and nickel release as appropriate to the confirmed requirements and intended skin contact.
How do I check whether a tie-pin back is secure?
Test the supplied back on the supplied pin, compare it with the approved sample and check retention after repeated fitting and removal. Check the head joint and any chain attachment as well.