Sourcing copper jam pans from China

Zero duty on copper jam pans

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 31 October 2026, heading 7418 covers copper kitchen and household articles, alongside other copper goods. The relevant hand-made and other kitchenware lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.

The table separates lined and unlined variants sharing the same tariff lines. Confirm construction and whether the pan is hand-made before choosing the commodity code. Copper-plated steel or aluminium articles are classified by their base metal. See the wider copper cookware and homeware guide for other products.

Specify the jam pan and its food contact surface

Specify solid copper or a layered construction, wall and base thickness, rim diameter, depth, usable capacity, base flatness and handle attachment. Agree whether the interior is bare copper, tin-lined or stainless-lined, and approve a sample showing the actual finish. State the intended hob types and verify any induction claim on the sample.

Unlined copper can release copper into acidic food. For a jam pan, ask for a food contact assessment and finished-product migration testing covering the intended fruit mixture, heating and contact conditions. A lining alone is not proof of suitability. Confirm the applicable lead-content requirements for tin linings with the relevant food safety authority, and consult the site's food contact materials guide.

Food contact articles must not transfer constituents in amounts that endanger health or unacceptably change the food. Importers of consumer products are responsible for their safety and applicable labelling requirements. Agree care instructions addressing the lining, cleaning and supported uses, and retain the evidence for the finished product.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 lined copper jam pans, illustrative order under 7418 10 90 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,100, so it is £620. 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

Body: measure wall and base thickness against the specification, check material identity, and inspect the rim and base for distortion.

Interior: check lining coverage, exposed copper, scratches and residue; match the tested construction to the delivered pans and review migration results.

Handles: check rivets, joints and grip clearance, and test attachment strength against the agreed filled-pan load.

Packing: inspect for dents and tarnish on arrival, check protective separation around handles and rims, and confirm care instructions accompany the pans.

What goes wrong

A polished sample can hide thin walls, copper plating over another metal or an unsuitable decorative coating. Lining gaps expose copper, weak rivets loosen, and poorly separated pans arrive with dented rims. Agree material checks, lining acceptance and protective packing before production.

A generic cookware report may not describe the ordered pan's interior or intended jam-making conditions. Match reports to the approved construction and investigate changes in lining or solder before accepting the batch. Use testing and certification support to define the evidence needed.

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.