Sourcing copper stockpots from China

Zero duty on the relevant copper lines

Heading 7418 covers copper table, kitchen and household articles, including the copper cookware considered here. Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, the relevant lines carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.

The table shows candidate classifications, including lining variants sharing a code. Confirm whether the article belongs under non-electric domestic cooking apparatus or other kitchen articles, and whether the hand-made subdivision applies. Copper-plated steel or aluminium articles are classified by their base metal. Confirm the construction and commodity code before ordering.

For the wider heading and related cookware, see copper saucepans. Zero customs duty does not remove import VAT; see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the stockpot body and lining

Agree whether the body is solid copper or layered construction. Specify wall and base thickness, usable capacity, internal diameter, overall height, lid seating, handle clearance and the intended hob. State whether the lid has the same lining as the pot, and approve a sample with its final handles and packaging.

Confirm the applicable requirements for substances transferring from food contact surfaces into food with the relevant authority. Unlined copper can release copper into acidic food, so agree a tin or stainless steel lining and request migration testing on the finished stockpot for the intended foods and cooking conditions. For tin, specify lead-free material and check solder exposure.

Descriptions must not mislead customers about the material or its properties. Describe copper plating and layered construction accurately. Agree cleaning instructions and evidence for any induction claim; arrange testing and certification around the actual construction.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small batch of copper stockpots with stainless steel lining under 7418 10 90 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,600, so it is £1,520. 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 agreed locations, compare capacity and dimensions with the sample, and check base flatness, rim roundness and dents.

Lining: inspect the base, sidewalls and rim for exposed copper, pinholes, blisters and separation. Match the lining to the specification and review the finished-product migration report.

Handles and lid: check rivets and welds for movement, test lifting with the agreed filled load, and confirm the lid seats without rocking or catching.

Packing: check separators protect linings and rims, handles cannot strike adjacent pots, and copper surfaces arrive free from tarnish and scratches. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A stockpot can match the sample externally while having thinner walls or incomplete lining near the rim. Thin tin can wear through, poorly bonded stainless steel can separate, and loose handle rivets become apparent when the pot is filled. A distorted rim can also leave an otherwise matching lid rocking.

Record acceptance criteria against the approved sample and inspect production pots before shipment. On arrival, check lining coverage, handle movement, lid fit and packing damage before distributing the batch. Resolve material substitutions with the supplier before accepting the goods.

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.