Sourcing curved insulating glass units from China

UK duty on curved insulating glass units

Heading 7008 covers multiple-walled insulating units of glass. For curved units, the relevant descriptions distinguish tinted or coated glass, other sealed units with two panes enclosing air, other gases or a vacuum, and other units such as triple glazing. See the wider double-glazed units guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, all listed lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied extract lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or import controls. Tinted and coated units share a commodity code in the table.

Confirm the commodity code using the pane configuration and coating description of the goods being shipped. Send the broker the glass make-up and sectional drawing. Complete windows with frames are classified by the frame material.

Specify the bend and glass make-up

Provide a dimensioned drawing showing the bend radius, the surface from which it is measured, chord width, arc length, rise and height. Identify the concave and convex faces, installation orientation and permissible variation. Agree a physical template or frame trial so the factory and installer check the same geometry.

Specify each pane's thickness and whether it is toughened or laminated, coating position, cavity, spacer, gas fill, overall thickness and edge seal system. Agree acceptable optical distortion against an approved sample. Ask the factory to show that its test evidence covers the proposed curved construction and seal system.

For building use, obtain the declaration of performance and marking evidence described in the wider guide. Match safety glazing and thermal performance to the installation position. CE marking continues to be available for construction products placed on the market in Great Britain.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 curved double-glazed units for a building project under 7008 00 81 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £42,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,000, so it is £8,400. 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

Geometry: compare sampled units with the approved drawing and template; check radius reference, chord, rise, height and orientation. Trial the fit without forcing the glass into the frame.

Pane alignment: check edge alignment, overall thickness, cavity consistency and coating position. Inspect reflected lines and the view through the glass against the agreed optical sample.

Edge seals: check seal continuity around the curve, spacer joints and corners. Compare sealants and spacers with the agreed system and review moisture penetration and gas leakage reports.

Packing and arrival: check shaped supports, separators and bracing prevent movement or hard contact. Record crate damage before unpacking, then inspect edges, scratches and cracks. Set the scope through the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A radius measured from a different surface can produce a unit that follows the wrong curve. Mismatched pane profiles can leave uneven cavities or misaligned edges. Unagreed optical distortion becomes a dispute after fitting. Resolve the drawing references and approve a sample in the intended frame before releasing production.

Weak edge seals allow moisture between the panes. Curved units can also crack where packing concentrates pressure or permits movement. Check seals and shaped supports before loading, and keep arrival photographs linked to each unit's drawing reference.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.