Sourcing bullet-resistant glazing from China

0% duty on insulating glass units

Heading 7008 covers multiple-walled insulating units of glass. This guide concerns sealed units incorporating bullet-resistant glazing. Single laminated panes fall under heading 7007, while complete framed windows are classified by frame material. For the wider insulating-unit heading, see our fire-resistant insulating glass units guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, all listed commodity lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. Tinted and coated variants in the table share a commodity code.

Confirm the commodity code against the shipped unit's glass treatment and construction. The untreated sealed-cavity line covers two glass panels separated by air, other gases or a vacuum. Bullet resistance alone does not describe the tariff line.

Specify the ballistic glass and sealed cavity

Agree the intended threat and ballistic test classification with the buyer's security designer. Specify each pane's construction, laminate materials, attack face, protected face, splinter behaviour, cavity, spacer, coatings, overall thickness and edge seal. Ask the test laboratory to confirm that the evidence covers the ordered make-up and orientation, including its use in an insulating unit.

For insulating units intended for building use, confirm declaration of performance and construction product marking requirements with the relevant construction products authority. CE marking remains accepted in Great Britain. Obtain any applicable declaration and supporting insulating-unit test reports alongside the ballistic evidence. Agree frame compatibility, edge support and installation details with the project designer. Use testing and certification support to review the documents before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative project crate of made-to-size bullet-resistant insulating glass units; values are illustrative, not a quote under 7008 00 81 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £42,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,000, so it is £8,400. 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

Evidence and identity: match report drawings, glass layers, laminate materials and product references to the approved order and supplied batch.

Dimensions and orientation: measure sizes and overall thickness against the cutting list; check attack-face identification, coating position and agreed frame clearances.

Edges and seals: inspect for chipped edges, laminate separation, bubbles, seal gaps and moisture between panes; compare spacers and sealants with the approved specification.

Packing and arrival: check upright support, separators, corner protection and crate bracing; record cracks and impact damage before moving units. Set these checks out in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A supplier may offer a ballistic report for a different laminate, orientation or glass construction. Treat this as a document mismatch to resolve with the laboratory before approving production. Agree how changes to glass layers, interlayers, coatings or the cavity will be reviewed.

Heavy units can arrive with chipped edges or transit cracks, while weak seals allow misting between panes. Incorrect thickness or dimensions can prevent fitting. Approve the cutting list, frame interfaces, face identification and packing arrangement before shipment, then compare delivered units with those records.

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.