Sourcing copper end-feed fittings from China

Zero duty on copper end-feed fittings

Heading 7412 covers copper tube or pipe fittings, including couplings, elbows and sleeves. Refined copper end-feed fittings fall within 7412 10 00 00; copper alloy fittings are covered by 7412 20 00 00. The table separates common end-feed shapes under the same refined copper code.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, both lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls.

Confirm the material and goods description before choosing the commodity code. For the wider heading and the alternative joint type, see the copper solder-ring fittings guide.

Specify the socket and intended water service

Specify end-feed fittings without a preloaded solder ring. State the copper grade, fitting shape, mating tube outside diameter, socket bore and depth, wall thickness, dimensional tolerances and intended pressure and temperature conditions. Agree the solder and flux to use for sample joint tests.

For drinking-water installations in England and Wales, confirm with the local water company the applicable Water Fittings Regulations requirements for quality, standard and suitability for the circumstances of use. Agree the dimensional, marking and pressure checks for capillary fittings with the supplier. Match any approval evidence requested by your customer to the exact fitting range.

Water undertakers enforce these regulations. Ask the local water company about unresolved compliance questions before committing to stock for a particular installation.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-carton order of refined copper end-feed couplings under 7412 10 00 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,600, so it is £1,320. 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

Material: match the batch material report to the ordered copper grade and inspect bodies for cracks, splits and excessive thinning.

Sockets: gauge bore and insertion depth against the agreed drawing; check roundness, tube fit, internal stops and burrs at the mouth.

Joint performance: solder sample fittings onto the intended tube using the agreed procedure, then pressure-test assembled joints and inspect for leakage.

Packing and identity: check size markings, batch references and carton contents; reject dented mouths and mixed sizes. Agree sampling by fitting shape and size through the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Sockets that are too loose, tight or shallow make consistent assembly difficult. Oval mouths and burrs obstruct tube insertion; contamination can interfere with solder wetting. A pressure result for another fitting shape or size does not demonstrate the performance of the delivered range.

Keep approved samples and drawings, compare production fittings with them, and record joint-test results by batch and size. Inspect incoming cartons before releasing stock, so transport damage and size substitutions are caught before installation.

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.