Sourcing copper and brass pipe fittings from China
Copper and brass pipe fittings from China, including couplings, elbows, tees and compression fittings, pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. For drinking water, the Water Fittings Regulations require fittings of appropriate quality and standard, so buyers expect a named standard, often WRAS approval. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
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Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, copper tube or pipe fittings of refined copper and of copper alloys carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Brass taps and valves are in heading 8481 and are covered in the taps and valves guide; steel fittings are in the steel fittings guide. Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fittings of refined copper | 7412 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Fittings of copper alloys, such as brass | 7412 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
Water Fittings Regulations
In England and Wales regulation 4 of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 requires every water fitting to be of an appropriate quality and standard and suitable for the circumstances in which it is used. The duty falls on installers and users, which is why merchants ask for a named standard for copper fittings and often WRAS approval.
Brass and lead
For brass fittings, specify a dezincification-resistant alloy where water chemistry demands it, and cap the lead content. Ask for the alloy designation and a material test report for each batch, and check pressure ratings and solder ring or compression olive quality on samples. For fastener alloy specifications, see our copper and brass fasteners guide. For push-fit specifications, see our guide to sourcing brass push-fit fittings.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 8 tonnes of brass compression fittings, entered under 7412 20 00 00: £52,000 free on board plus £2,600 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £54,600. Brass fittings carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £54,600, £10,920, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
Inspection checklist
Standards and approval: capillary and solder ring fittings checked against BS EN 1254-1 and compression fittings against BS EN 1254-2 for dimensions, marking and pressure rating, the WRAS approval or other evidence the merchant requires matched to the exact fitting range in the directory, and the alloy designation confirmed on each batch's material test report. For end-feed fittings, see sourcing copper end-feed fittings.
Alloy and lead: brass bodies checked with a handheld XRF analyser against the ordered alloy, dezincification-resistant brass tested to ISO 6509-1 on samples from each batch, and lead content measured at an accredited laboratory where the order sets a lead limit.
Fit and pressure: bores, olives and threads checked with go and no-go gauges, solder rings checked for presence and position, assembled samples pressure-tested with the tube they will be used with and held for leaks, and fittings packed so ends and threads are not dented, with cartons sampled to ISO 2859-1.
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What goes wrong
Fittings fail on alloy, dimensions and leaks. Ordinary brass supplied where dezincification-resistant brass was ordered loses zinc in aggressive water and weakens, and lead above the agreed limit fails a merchant's test. Compression bodies and olives made slightly out of size leak when tightened, solder ring fittings arrive with rings missing or off-centre, and threads that do not gauge will not seal.
Ask for the alloy designation and a material test report per batch, test samples for lead and dezincification where specified, check bores, olives and threads with gauges, pressure-test assembled samples on copper tube, and check the maker's marking on each fitting. Pack by size in bags inside cartons so fittings do not dent.
Testing and inspection
Pressure-test samples, check wall thickness, bore and thread gauges, and the stamping on each fitting. At inspection, sample by size and check packing to avoid dented ends.
Cambridge China Bridge sources copper and brass fittings, with standards, alloy and approval evidence settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Where a rigid fitting cannot take movement, a corrugated or braided hose is used; see our flexible metal hoses guide.
Related guides: Sourcing aluminium pipe fittings from China.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on copper fittings from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, copper tube and pipe fittings of refined copper or copper alloys carried 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Do copper fittings need WRAS approval?
The law requires fittings of appropriate quality and standard; WRAS approval is one common way to show it, and many merchants ask for it.
Why does brass alloy matter?
Water chemistry can dezincify ordinary brass, so specify a dezincification-resistant alloy where needed and cap lead content.
Are brass valves in heading 7412?
No. Taps and valves are in heading 8481.