Sourcing bright steel bars from China
Bright and other bars of non-alloy steel from China, including cold-drawn and ground bright bar and free-cutting steel bar, pay 0% ordinary UK duty with no anti-dumping, but all 6 lines are under the UK steel measure, so 50% applies once the quota is used up. Bright bar is specified to BS EN 10277, and leaded free-cutting grades matter for RoHS.
Cold-drawn bright bars, free-cutting steel bars and other non-alloy steel bars from China: 0% UK duty, but 50% steel duty outside quota on every line.
Every line is under the steel measure
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 7215 covers other bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel, meaning bars that are cold-formed, cold-finished or otherwise further worked rather than only hot-rolled. All 6 lines carried an ordinary duty of 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
All 6 lines are under the UK steel measure: free-cutting steel bars cold-finished, other cold-finished bars with under 0.25% carbon (rectangular or other section) and with 0.25% or more carbon, and other bars, including hot-rolled bars that are only clad. They pay 0% while the quota for countries without their own allocation has volume and 50% once it is used up; the tariff as of 2 October 2026 shows a 50% third-country rate with the 0% quota continuing.
Hot-rolled bars and rebar are heading 7214, stainless bars 7222 (see our stainless bars guide) and alloy steel bars 7228 (see our alloy steel bars guide), so confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free-cutting steel bars, cold-finished | 7215 10 00 00 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
| Cold-finished bars under 0.25% carbon, rectangular | 7215 50 11 00 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
| Cold-finished bars under 0.25% carbon, other | 7215 50 19 00 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
| Cold-finished bars, 0.25% or more carbon | 7215 50 80 00 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
| Hot-rolled bars, only clad | 7215 90 00 10 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
| Other bars | 7215 90 00 90 | 0%; 50% outside steel quota | None |
Standards, grades and RoHS
Bright steel products are specified to BS EN 10277, which covers drawn, turned and ground bars in free-cutting, case-hardening and quenched and tempered grades, with tolerance classes such as h9 and h11. Ask for an inspection certificate type 3.1 to BS EN 10204.
Leaded free-cutting steels contain lead for machinability. Under the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012, lead as an alloying element in steel for machining is exempt only up to 0.35% by weight, so check the grade if the parts go into electrical equipment.
Specifying bright bars
Specify grade and standard, shape and size, finish (cold-drawn, peeled, turned or ground), tolerance class, straightness, length, surface defect limits, heat treatment, lead or sulphur content for free-cutting grades, and marking and bundling.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 30 tonnes of cold-drawn round bright bar with under 0.25% carbon, commodity code 7215 50 19 00, bought for £27,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £30,000. While the steel quota has volume the duty is 0%, so import VAT is 20% of £30,000, £6,000. Once the quota is used up, the 50% steel duty adds £15,000 and VAT rises to 20% of £45,000, £9,000. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
Inspection checklist
Documents: check the 3.1 certificate's grade, chemistry (including lead and sulphur for free-cutting grades) and heat numbers against the bar tags.
Dimensions: measure diameter or across-flats at several points against the tolerance class, and check straightness and length.
Surface: look for seams, scratches, rust and handling damage, and check bars are oiled and wrapped against corrosion for sea freight.
What goes wrong
Bright bar orders fail on tolerance, surface and duty. Bars arrive outside the tolerance class, seams show up only after machining, rust spoils the finish after a long voyage, and the steel quota runs out before arrival so 50% applies.
Agree tolerance and surface limits in writing, protect against corrosion, and check the quota. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources bright steel bars for UK machine shops and stockholders, checking the mill's drawing and grinding lines first. See second supplier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on bright steel bar from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, cold-finished non-alloy bars (7215) are 0% within the steel quota and 50% once it is used up.
Are any 7215 lines outside the steel measure?
No. All 6 lines of heading 7215 are under the steel measure.
Which standard covers bright steel bars?
BS EN 10277, with tolerance classes such as h9 and h11.
Does leaded free-cutting steel matter for RoHS?
Yes. Lead in steel for machining is exempt only up to 0.35% by weight.