Sourcing beryllium copper foil from China

UK duty on beryllium copper foil

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7410 covers copper foil no thicker than 0.15 mm, excluding any backing. Beryllium copper foil belongs within the copper-alloy branches: 7410 12 00 00 for unbacked foil and 7410 22 00 00 for backed foil. The table shows commercial forms sharing these codes.

Both relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for either line. The suspensions on certain refined-copper lines do not apply to these copper-alloy lines.

Give your customs broker the composition, metal thickness and backing details to confirm the commodity code. For thicker material and the related product family, see our beryllium copper strip guide. The duty and VAT guide explains import tax calculations.

Specify alloy, temper and foil geometry

State the alloy designation and required composition, including beryllium content. Specify the delivery temper and whether forming happens before or after ageing. Agree thickness and width tolerances, flatness, edge burr acceptance, rolling direction, surface finish and coil winding. For backed foil, describe the backing and required bond performance separately.

Ask for batch-linked mill certificates covering chemistry and the mechanical properties needed by your process. Agree how hardness, tensile strength, elongation and conductivity will be checked where relevant. Test samples through your intended forming and heat-treatment process before approving production.

UK REACH generally covers substances on their own, in mixtures and in articles. Review the supplied foil's form and your importer obligations before resale. Request composition and safe-use information. Working with beryllium can affect health, and employers must adequately control hazardous workplace exposure. Include substances produced by cutting or grinding in the risk assessment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial order of unbacked beryllium copper foil rolls under 7410 12 00 00, invoiced at £2,200 free on board, with £100 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,300, so it is £460. 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

Material: match roll labels and batch references to mill certificates; arrange independent chemistry testing where alloy identity is critical.

Dimensions: measure thickness across the width and along sample lengths; check slit width, edge burrs, camber and flatness against the order.

Performance: compare hardness and mechanical test results with the agreed temper; trial forming and ageing on retained samples where applicable.

Surface and packing: inspect for scratches, creases, oxidation and damaged edges; check supported cores, sealed wrapping and batch identification.

What goes wrong

A correct alloy name can conceal the wrong delivery temper. Foil may crack during forming or miss the required spring response after ageing. Uneven thickness, slit-edge burrs and camber can disrupt feeding and stamping. Unsupported coils can arrive dented or with displaced windings. Set acceptance criteria against the intended process and retain approved samples.

A material certificate does not describe every processing hazard. Review supplier safe-use information alongside your own cutting, grinding and other operations. Resolve missing composition or batch records before releasing stock. Use a quality inspection brief to connect certificate checks with physical inspection.

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.