Sourcing compressed air blow guns from China

Zero duty, with classification to confirm

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, all listed lines under heading 8424 carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duties or suspensions. The heading covers spraying and jet projecting appliances and their parts. The table gives classification candidates and related parts, not interchangeable codes for the same blow gun.

The supplied tariff attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls to the candidate appliance lines, and an ozone-depleting substance restriction to the parts line. It also attaches a torture and repression export restriction to the spray-gun and other-appliance lines. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements for goods from China, including any declaration needed for an ordinary compressed-air-only product.

Send the broker photographs, the nozzle design, operating description and details of any separately supplied parts to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see pressure washers and sprayers.

Inlet threads, nozzles and pressure documents

Specify the inlet thread form, coupling profile, body material, nozzle length and bore, working pressure, air consumption and trigger action. State whether the coupling is included. Ask for airflow and noise results at the same inlet conditions so samples can be compared.

Government guidance says pressure-equipment design, manufacture and conformity assessment rules cover equipment with a maximum allowable pressure above 0.5 bar. Ask the factory to establish the model's scope and classification before agreeing its marking and documents. For equipment within scope, the importer must ensure that English instructions accompany it.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 40 compressed air blow guns, subject to classification confirmation under 8424 20 00 00, invoiced at £150 free on board, with £40 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £190. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £190, so it is £38. 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

Connections: mate samples with the buyer's intended hose and coupling; check thread engagement, sealing and retention under the agreed test conditions.

Trigger: check smooth operation, prompt return and complete shut-off; listen for leakage after release and repeat after cycling.

Nozzle: check secure attachment, clear passages, burr-free edges and the agreed airflow; compare the supplied nozzle with the approved sample.

Identification: match the model and batch information to the order and test records; check that the instructions describe the supplied nozzle and pressure setting. Use a written inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Similar-looking threads and couplings can fail to seal or retain the hose. A changed nozzle bore alters airflow and noise, while a sticking trigger or damaged valve seal leaves air flowing after release. Record defects against the approved sample and hold affected stock for investigation.

Do not treat compressed air as a harmless cleaning method. HSE advises considering air nozzles designed for noise reduction. Ask the supplier to demonstrate the intended cleaning task and record the inlet conditions, rather than accepting an unsupported quiet-nozzle claim.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.