Copper and brass sheet and strip from China
Copper plates, sheets and strip more than 0.15 mm thick from China, of refined copper, brass, bronze, cupro-nickel or other copper alloys, in coils or flat, pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. They are bought on alloy designation, temper and thickness tolerance to BS EN 1652, backed by a mill certificate, because copper is priced by weight.
Copper, brass, bronze and cupro-nickel plate, sheet and strip over 0.15 mm from China pay 0% UK duty. BS EN 1652, alloy designations, temper and tolerances.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, copper plates, sheets and strip of a thickness exceeding 0.15 mm, heading 7409, carried 0% on goods from China on every line: refined copper, brass (copper-zinc), bronze (copper-tin), cupro-nickel and nickel silver, and other copper alloys, in coils or not. No line carried an anti-dumping measure, and two listed technical products have 0% suspensions that make no difference at a 0% rate.
Foil of 0.15 mm or less is under heading 7410 (see our copper foil guide), bars and busbars under 7407, and tube under 7411 (see our copper tubes guide).
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refined copper, in coils | 7409 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Refined copper, flat | 7409 19 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Brass (copper-zinc), in coils | 7409 21 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Bronze (copper-tin), in coils | 7409 31 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Cupro-nickel or nickel silver | 7409 40 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other copper alloys | 7409 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Standards and materials
Plate, sheet, strip and circles for general purposes are specified to BS EN 1652, and copper sheet for building to BS EN 1172, using the European material designations such as CW004A for electrolytic tough pitch copper or CW508L for brass. Leaded brasses and platings should come with a supplier statement on restricted substances under UK REACH.
Specifying sheet and strip
Specify alloy designation, temper, thickness, width and length or coil weight and inner diameter, tolerances on thickness and flatness, edge condition (mill or slit), surface finish, and interleaving and packing against oxidation.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 15 tonnes of brass strip in coils under 7409 21 00 00. At £105,000 free on board and £2,500 to ship and insure, the customs value is £107,500. With 0% duty on brass strip, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £107,500, or £21,500. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Material: check the mill certificate for alloy and temper, and have a sample tested for composition and hardness if the application is critical.
Dimensions: measure thickness across the width, check width, camber and edge burr on slit strip, and weigh coils against the ordered dimensions.
Surface and packing: check for oxidation, scratches and oil stains, and that coils are wrapped with desiccant.
What goes wrong
Copper sheet orders fail on alloy, temper and gauge. A cheaper alloy or recycled material is substituted, temper is wrong so parts crack in forming, thickness runs to the thin side of tolerance, slit edges have burrs, and coils arrive tarnished.
Test composition and hardness, measure thickness, and check packing. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources copper and brass sheet and strip for UK stampers and electrical makers, checking the mill's certificates first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on brass sheet from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, brass plates, sheets and strip (7409 21 and 7409 29) carried 0% from China.
Is there anti-dumping duty on Chinese copper sheet?
No. Heading 7409 had no UK anti-dumping measure on 27 September 2026.
Which standard covers copper sheet?
BS EN 1652 for general purposes, and BS EN 1172 for copper sheet used in building.
Where does thinner foil go?
Copper of 0.15 mm or less is foil under heading 7410.