Sourcing brake calipers from China
Brake-caliper tariff lines carry base duties of 2% to 4% from China, with a specific suspension for qualifying cast-iron caliper jaws. Ordinary aftermarket disc-brake calipers carry 4%. Before selling, the importer must demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations and safety requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources brake calipers.
UK import duty on brake calipers
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 8708 covers motor-vehicle parts and accessories. Other disc-brake parts under 8708 30 91 90 carry 4% duty from China. The table repeats this code for different caliper purchases; these are not separate tariff subdivisions. For the wider product range, see automotive aftermarket parts.
The specified industrial-assembly caliper jaw under 8708 30 10 70 has a 2% base duty and a 0.00 % autonomous suspension. Its footnote excludes products made up of different components containing the qualifying product. The disc-brake line also lists narrowly described suspensions, including authorised-use relief, rather than general relief for complete calipers. Neither selected line lists anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the exact goods and suspension eligibility with your broker using finding your commodity code.
Both lines attach an ozone-depleting-substance restriction on entry into free circulation and a cultural-object export-licence measure. New equipment must not use ozone-depleting substances, apart from recycled halons for critical uses. Obtain a material declaration and ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable declaration and any documentary requirement for goods from China, including the relevance of the export measure.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front disc-brake calipers, other | 8708 30 91 90 | 4% | None |
| Ductile cast-iron caliper jaws for specified vehicle industrial assembly | 8708 30 10 70 | 2% | None |
Specify fitment, hydraulics and supplied parts
Order against the original vehicle part reference, application list and approved drawing. Specify front or rear position, left or right side, mounting centres, disc clearance, piston arrangement, fluid connection and bleed-screw position. State whether the bracket, slide pins, seals, boots and parking-brake mechanism are included, and whether the caliper is newly manufactured or remanufactured.
Fix body material, piston finish, seal compatibility with the intended brake fluid, corrosion protection and packaging. Agree pressure-leak, piston-return and sliding checks with documented acceptance criteria. For electrically operated parking brakes, specify the connector, actuator and vehicle compatibility.
Before putting imported products on the market, you must be able to demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations and safety requirements. Ask for test reports matching the supplied caliper design and fitting instructions for its intended application. Keep batch records linked to the supplier and shipment; use testing and certification support to define the evidence needed.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 300 replacement disc-brake calipers under 8708 30 91 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 4% is £1,260. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,760, so it is £6,552. Import taxes total £7,812; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,260 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fitment: compare sampled parts with the drawing and reference assembly, including mounting holes, disc clearance, fluid ports and bleed-screw orientation.
Hydraulics: witness the agreed pressure-leak test and check piston movement, seal seating, dust boots and slide-pin travel.
Condition: inspect castings, machined faces, threads, coating coverage and capped ports for cracks, damage, rust and contamination.
Identity: match part references, handedness, supplied accessories and batch records to each box and the packing list. Repeat these checks on arrival before releasing stock; see quality inspection.
What goes wrong
A caliper can resemble the sample yet have the wrong bracket offset, fluid thread or parking-brake mechanism. Mixed left and right boxes create fitting errors. Damaged boots, contaminated bores and unsuitable seals can cause leakage or sticking. Approve the actual assembly and inspect against its drawing, rather than accepting a catalogue photograph.
Importers remain responsible for product safety after sale and must report identified risks to their local Trading Standards service. Keep complaints linked to batches and customers so affected stock can be located. Avoid treating a suspension attached to a shared commodity code as evidence that your complete caliper qualifies.
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 brake calipers from China?
Other disc-brake parts under 8708 30 91 90 carry 4%. Specified industrial-assembly caliper jaws under 8708 30 10 70 have a 2% base duty and a 0.00 % suspension for qualifying goods.
Can I claim the suspension for complete aftermarket calipers?
Do not assume so. The listed relief describes particular goods, including a specified cast-iron caliper jaw. Have your broker check the product description and footnotes before claiming relief.
What should I send a Chinese caliper factory?
Send the vehicle application list, original part references, drawings and reference samples. Define handedness, bracket inclusion, fluid connections, seals and any parking-brake mechanism.
How do I check brake calipers before shipping?
Check fitment against the approved assembly, witness agreed pressure-leak and movement tests, inspect boots and threads, and match every box to its part reference and batch.