Sourcing cold-formed hat channels from China
Cold-formed steel hat channels from China carry 0% duty across the relevant cold-formed lines of heading 7216, with no listed trade remedies. Confirm the profile and processing route, then check the construction-product marking route for the intended use. Cambridge China Bridge sources cold-formed steel hat channels.
Hat-channel classification and UK duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7216 covers angles, shapes and sections of iron or non-alloy steel. For a hat channel formed from flat-rolled steel without further working, the omega or open-ended section description under 7216 61 10 00 is the main classification candidate. The table includes neighbouring descriptions for comparison, rather than interchangeable codes for the same channel.
The listed cold-formed lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions, steel measure or attached import controls on these lines. Confirm whether punching, welding or other processing changes the classification. See UK import duty and VAT when budgeting the illustrative order.
Send the drawing, steel composition and manufacturing sequence to your broker to confirm the commodity code. For wider heading context, see cold-formed steel Z sections. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether these steel lines fall within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and when any requirements apply. Review the UK carbon border adjustment guide when planning future imports.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega or open-ended sections cold-formed from flat-rolled steel | 7216 61 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other sections from flat-rolled steel, only cold-formed or cold-finished | 7216 61 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Other cold-formed or cold-finished sections, not from flat-rolled products | 7216 69 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other cold-formed sections from flat-rolled steel, excluding ribbed sheets | 7216 91 80 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the crown, legs and fixing flanges
Provide a dimensioned cross-section showing crown width, depth, leg angles, outward fixing flanges, bend radii and any return lips. Specify base steel thickness separately from coating thickness, steel grade, coating, cut length, straightness and twist tolerances. Show hole positions and the mating brackets or boards. Ask the designer to approve section properties and fixing details for the intended application.
For construction use, establish the applicable product standard or technical assessment before ordering documents or labels. Under the CE route, manufacturers of products covered by a harmonised standard or a European Technical Assessment must draw up a declaration of performance. Legitimately CE-marked construction products can continue to be supplied in Great Britain without adding UKCA marking. Ask for documentation matching the actual profile and intended use through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of cold-formed steel hat channels; illustrative order, not a quotation under 7216 61 10 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,000, so it is £4,000. 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
Profile: measure crown width, depth, flange width, bend geometry, length, straightness and twist against the approved drawing; trial-fit the intended fixings.
Material: check base steel thickness and coating separately, and match material certificates and coil or batch references to the delivered bundles.
Finish: inspect bends for cracking, cut edges for burrs, and coated surfaces for bare patches, scratches and white rust; look for crushed flanges from tight strapping.
Documents and packing: match bundle labels, quantities and profile references to the order; check applicable performance documents and marking, then repeat the dimensional checks on arrival. See quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
A supplier may quote overall coated thickness while the buyer expects base steel thickness. Similar-looking profiles can have different crown widths, flange angles or bend radii, preventing brackets from seating. Twisted lengths and flattened flanges can also make a bundle unusable even when its overall weight matches the order.
Another failure is accepting documents for a different profile or intended use. Agree the drawing, material evidence and applicable performance documentation before production. Importers must not supply construction products in Great Britain where they have reason to believe the products do not comply with applicable construction-product requirements.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on steel hat channels from China?
The relevant cold-formed lines carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff record. No anti-dumping, countervailing duty or steel measure is listed on those lines. Confirm the code from the profile and processing.
Which commodity code covers cold-formed hat channels?
7216 61 10 00 is the main candidate for omega or open-ended sections formed from flat-rolled steel without further working. Give your broker the drawing, material composition and processing details.
Do steel hat channels need CE or UKCA marking?
Check the construction-product route for the intended use. The CE route requires a declaration of performance for products covered by a harmonised standard or European Technical Assessment. Legitimate CE marking remains accepted in Great Britain.
What should I measure when hat channels arrive?
Check base steel thickness, crown width, depth, flange geometry, length, straightness and twist. Trial-fit the specified fixings and inspect the coating, bends, cut edges and bundle damage.