Sourcing copper mesh, springs and castings

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, articles of copper that are cast, moulded, stamped or forged but not further worked, copper wire cloth, grill and netting and expanded metal, copper springs, and other articles of copper carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Pipe fittings, cookware, fasteners and wire have their own headings, so confirm the commodity code for each part; see the copper and brass pipe fittings guide.

Alloys, lead and hazardous substances

Name the alloy by its European designation: cast copper alloys under BS EN 1982, such as CC491K leaded gunmetal or CC333G aluminium bronze, and wrought alloys such as CW452K phosphor bronze or CW101C beryllium copper for springs. Ask for the mill or foundry certificate with the chemical analysis, because a cheaper brass with more lead or zinc looks the same when machined.

Lead in brass and bronze is allowed in electrical and electronic equipment only up to the limits in the RoHS exemptions, and copper alloys in contact with drinking water need approval for that use, so specify low-lead alloys where they apply. Machining or grinding beryllium copper produces dust that is hazardous to breathe, so the factory needs controls. See the steel springs guide and the wire mesh guide.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 40,000 phosphor bronze springs, commodity code 7419 80 30 00, bought for £20,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance, so £20,800 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on copper alloy springs; import VAT at 20% of £20,800 is £4,160. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. Small springs usually travel by air, so check freight quotes against the value before choosing sea. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

What goes wrong

Copper alloy parts fail on composition, porosity and dimensions. Castings arrive in a cheaper alloy with more lead or zinc than specified, porosity or shrinkage cavities leak under pressure or show after machining, and springs lose force because the temper or heat treatment was wrong. Wire mesh apertures vary across the roll, surfaces tarnish in transit, and stamped parts carry burrs that cut the next assembler.

Check composition with XRF or a laboratory analysis on each heat or lot against the named grade, pressure-test or X-ray castings that must be leak-tight, measure spring force and free length before and after a set-removal cycle, measure mesh aperture and wire diameter across the width, check dimensions and burrs on first-off parts, and pack with anti-tarnish paper and desiccant.

Cambridge China Bridge sources copper mesh, bronze springs and brass and bronze castings to drawing, with composition and pressure tests agreed before production. See how we source copper alloy parts.