Sourcing copper shielding foil tape from China

Duty and classification for shielding tape

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 7410 covers copper foil no thicker than 0.15 mm excluding backing. The relevant refined-copper and copper-alloy lines, backed or unbacked, carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no import controls on the selected lines.

The other unbacked refined-copper line has a conditional autonomous suspension at 0.00 %. It covers qualifying electrolytically manufactured foil and strips at least 0.015 mm thick, with a footnote excluding mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these products. Do not assume adhesive tape qualifies for this suspension. The selected backed lines have no suspension listed.

Send your customs broker a cross-section, copper composition, metal thickness and details of adhesive, permanent backing and removable liner. Confirm the commodity code rather than copying a supplier's declaration. Our copper foil and clad laminate guide covers the wider heading.

Specify the copper, adhesive and overlap

Specify copper composition and temper, metal thickness separately from total tape thickness, width, roll length, liner and winding direction. State whether the adhesive must conduct through its thickness, the surfaces it will bond to, and the intended storage and operating conditions.

Agree a test method and acceptance criteria for peel adhesion and electrical resistance across a bonded overlap. Test the tape on the actual enclosure material and surface finish. A conductive copper face alone does not demonstrate that an adhesive joint provides the required electrical path.

Ask for substance information covering the foil and adhesive. Under UK REACH, supplying an article containing a Candidate List substance above 0.1% by weight triggers a duty to give business recipients sufficient safe-use information, including the substance name.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative wholesale consignment of copper shielding foil tape rolls; classification subject to construction under 7410 21 00 90, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,200, so it is £1,240. 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

Dimensions: measure metal thickness separately from adhesive and liner; check slit width and usable roll length against the order.

Electrical path: check resistance across bonded overlaps using the agreed substrate, preparation and application method.

Adhesion: check peel behaviour, edge lifting and adhesive transfer after conditioning under the agreed conditions.

Surface and packing: inspect for oxidation, pinholes, wrinkles and damaged edges; check sealed packing, supported cores and batch identification.

What goes wrong

A roll can conduct along its copper face yet fail across an overlap because its adhesive is insulating or the contact is poor. Substituted adhesive, contaminated surfaces and uneven application can cause lifting or inconsistent resistance. Keep an approved sample and compare production lots using the same test method.

Thin foil can tear during unwinding, while distorted cores and crushed edges make rolls difficult to apply. Moisture can leave oxidation on exposed copper. Agree packing and arrival checks before dispatch, using the inspection guide to organise the inspection.

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.