Sourcing Collated Brad Nails from China

Zero duty on collated brad nails

Heading 7317 covers iron or steel nails and similar articles, excluding articles with copper heads. Collated brad nails made from wire and supplied in strips fall within 7317 00 20 00. The table shows product variants sharing that commodity line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 13 October 2026, the supplied heading lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control is recorded. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.

Confirm the material and strip construction using finding your commodity code. For the wider heading and a different nail-gun application, see collated roofing nails.

Specify the brad profile and target gun

Send the factory the target gun make and model, an approved nail sample and a dimensioned drawing. Specify shank width and thickness, length, head profile, point, strip angle, strip width and bonding method. A gauge description alone is insufficient to settle compatibility. Agree tolerances and test the sample in the actual tool and intended timber.

Specify steel type, coating, indoor or outdoor use and packaging that protects strip alignment from moisture and crushing. For structural timber connections, confirm with Trading Standards whether BS EN 14592 applies and whether a declaration of performance and UKCA or CE marking are required. Confirm suitability before specifying brads for that use. CE marking remains available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative consolidated air shipment of boxed collated brad nails in mixed lengths under 7317 00 20 00, invoiced at £4,800 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,800, so it is £1,360. 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

Dimensions: measure shank width, thickness, length and head profile against the approved drawing; check for bent shanks, burrs and inconsistent points.

Strip bonding: check straightness, separation and adhesive build-up after handling; test-fire samples in the target gun for feeding, jams and drive consistency.

Material and finish: compare the steel and coating with the approved sample; inspect for rust, bare patches and flaking, and check coating thickness against the order.

Packing and identity: verify box counts, length descriptions and batch identification; inspect crushed or damp cartons and keep affected strips separate for assessment.

What goes wrong

A strip can fit the magazine yet feed badly because the head profile, bonding or alignment differs from the approved sample. Weak bonding lets strips break during transport; excess adhesive can obstruct feeding. Soft or bent shanks deflect in harder timber, while poor coatings can leave rust stains on finished joinery.

Agree a repeatable sample-firing check before production and repeat it on arrival. Hold suspect batches while the factory investigates. If selling these nails as consumer products in the UK, do not sell products you know, or should have known, are unsafe.

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.