Sourcing copper saucepans from China
Copper saucepans from China within heading 7418 carry 0% UK duty across the supplied lines, with no listed trade remedies. Confirm applicable food-contact requirements with the relevant authority, including limits on releasing constituents into food. Specify the copper body and lining separately. Cambridge China Bridge sources copper saucepans.
Copper saucepan duty and classification
Heading 7418 covers copper table, kitchen and household articles and parts, as well as scourers and sanitary ware. For saucepans, the supplied reference places non-electric domestic cooking apparatus under 7418 10 10 00. The table separates apparatus and its parts under that shared code, alongside other kitchen-article lines that may need checking.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, all supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. These tariff entries do not establish food-contact suitability.
Copper-plated steel or aluminium articles are classified by their base metal in the supplied reference. Send the broker the body composition, lining, construction and intended use to confirm the commodity code. For related cookware within this heading, see copper jam pans.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-electric domestic copper cooking apparatus, including saucepans | 7418 10 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other copper kitchen articles and parts, hand-made | 7418 10 90 10 | 0% | None |
| Other copper kitchen articles and parts, other | 7418 10 90 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the copper body and food-contact lining
Specify solid copper or a layered construction, wall and base thickness, diameter, usable capacity, rim shape, lid fit and handle attachment. State whether the lining is tin or stainless steel, its coverage and the intended cooking conditions. If induction compatibility is claimed, approve a sample on the intended hob.
Confirm applicable requirements for constituent transfer from food-contact articles with the relevant authority. Unlined copper releases copper into acidic food, so agree the lining and ask for finished-pan migration testing matched to intended use. Specify lead-free tin linings and keep handle solder away from food-contact surfaces. Use testing and certification support to agree the assessment.
For consumer sales in Great Britain, confirm with the relevant product safety authority the requirements for safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Keep records identifying the suppliers of products you sell so their origins can be traced. Agree care instructions for the actual lining and packaging that protects the rim, handle and polished copper.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 tin-lined copper saucepans; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 7418 10 10 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £38,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £38,500, so it is £7,700. 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 at several positions, check material identity, and compare base flatness and lid fit with the approved sample.
Lining: inspect the rim, rivets and interior for exposed copper, gaps and peeling; match the test report to the supplied lining and finished saucepan.
Handle: check rivets and welds for looseness, test attachment strength against the agreed specification, and assess handling with the pan filled.
Finish and packing: check dents, scratches and tarnish; confirm protective separation between pieces and protection around handles. Agree sampling through the inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A sample can have a thicker copper body than production stock. Copper-plated steel or aluminium may be supplied against a solid-copper description. Thin tin wears through, poorly bonded stainless linings separate, and gaps around rivets leave copper exposed. Check production pieces against the approved material and lining specification.
Loose handles, distorted bases and dented rims can make an otherwise well-finished saucepan unsuitable. Polished copper can arrive tarnished after damp storage. Record defects on arrival and separate affected stock while the supplier investigates; appearance checks alone do not establish food-contact suitability.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on copper saucepans from China?
The supplied tariff data shows 0% duty across heading 7418 lines, including 7418 10 10 00 for non-electric domestic cooking apparatus, with no listed trade remedies.
Do copper saucepans need a lining?
Unlined copper releases copper into acidic food. Saucepan linings are normally tin or stainless steel; assess the finished food-contact surface for the intended cooking use.
How do I check a tin-lined copper saucepan?
Check lining coverage, lead content and migration evidence. Inspect the rim and rivets for gaps, and compare production pieces with the approved sample.
Will copper saucepans work on induction?
Verify the supplier's claim by testing the finished saucepan on the intended induction hob. Include the base construction and compatibility claim in the purchase specification.