Sourcing castellated PCBs from China
Castellated printed circuit boards from China carry 0% UK duty across the relevant heading 8534 lines, with no listed trade remedies. Boards used in regulated electrical products must support the finished product's restricted-substance compliance. Specify plated half-hole geometry and test solderability. Cambridge China Bridge sources castellated printed circuit boards.
0% duty on castellated printed circuits
Heading 8534 covers printed circuits. Castellated boards have plated half-holes along their edges for soldering onto a carrier board. The relevant lines distinguish multilayer circuits containing only conductor elements and contacts, other such circuits, and circuits with other passive elements. Single-sided and double-sided examples share a commodity code in the table.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all these lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.
Confirm the commodity code against the board construction and whether components are mounted. An assembled module needs its classification checked by function rather than simply using its bare-board code. See the wider printed circuit board guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multilayer castellated boards with only conductors and contacts | 8534 00 11 00 | 0% | None |
| Single-sided castellated boards with only conductors and contacts | 8534 00 19 00 | 0% | None |
| Castellated printed circuits with other passive elements | 8534 00 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the plated half-holes and carrier footprint
Send Gerber files and a fabrication drawing defining laminate, stack-up, board thickness, copper weight, surface finish and acceptability class. For the castellations, define finished hole diameter, pitch, position relative to the routed edge, exposed pad geometry and tolerances. Show the matching carrier footprint and identify the surfaces that must remain solderable.
Agree the routing and panel separation method, permitted burrs, edge damage and solder mask clearance. Ask the factory to review whether routing could tear the half-hole plating. Approve samples soldered onto your actual carrier board using your intended assembly process.
For boards incorporated into regulated electrical products, obtain material declarations for the laminate, solder mask and finish to support restricted-substance compliance. The finished-product manufacturer must determine compliance even when suppliers declare their components compliant. Keep those declarations tied to the approved materials and board revision.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5,000 four-layer bare castellated boards under 8534 00 11 00, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,500, so it is £4,300. 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
Half-hole plating: inspect routed edges under magnification for torn copper, voids, burrs and lifted pads; use sample cross-sections to assess plating against the drawing.
Fit and registration: measure the outline, thickness, half-hole pitch and edge position; compare solder mask clearance and exposed pads with the approved carrier footprint.
Solderability: assemble samples onto the carrier board and examine wetting along the half-holes, bridging and pad lifting after the intended soldering process.
Batch release: check electrical test records for every board, drawing revision and lot labels; inspect incoming packaging for moisture or edge damage and compare samples with the approved build.
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What goes wrong
Routing can leave copper burrs or tear plating from the half-holes. A board may pass electrical testing yet produce weak solder joints because the exposed edge plating is damaged or does not wet properly. Mask encroachment and incorrect edge position can also prevent the board fitting its carrier footprint.
A photograph of a sample does not establish assembly performance. Agree edge acceptance criteria before production, retain an approved sample, and require solderability and dimensional checks on samples from the production batch. Record laminate, finish or routing changes before accepting repeat orders.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on castellated PCBs from China?
The relevant heading 8534 lines carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff data, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Do castellated boards have their own commodity code?
The supplied tariff lines distinguish construction and passive elements, rather than castellated edges. Confirm the code from the board specification; check assembled modules separately.
What should I specify for plated half-holes?
Define finished hole diameter, pitch, edge position, pad geometry, plating, finish and mask clearance. Supply the carrier footprint and agree routing damage and burr acceptance criteria.
Is electrical testing enough for castellated boards?
Electrical testing checks continuity and isolation. Also inspect the exposed half-hole plating, measure fit and test solderability on your carrier board using the intended assembly process.