Sourcing drawing compasses from China

Drawing compass duty: 2%

Heading 9017 covers drawing and marking-out instruments alongside calculating and hand measuring instruments. Drawing compasses are normally considered under 9017 20 10 00, other drawing instruments. The table shows compass variants sharing that line and a separate parts line. See the stainless steel rulers guide for wider heading coverage.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the drawing-instrument and parts lines carried 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using the compass mechanism, intended function and contents of any set. Do not assume that loose pencil leads or unrelated stationery belong under the compass parts line.

Specify the joint, pencil holder and point

Agree the leg material, joint design, opening range, circle size range and acceptable movement under drawing pressure. Specify whether adjustment uses a friction joint or a screw, and whether the pencil holder accepts a complete pencil or replacement leads. Approve the actual holder and replacement components together.

Specify the point cover, storage case and how the compass is retained inside it. Products supplied on the Great Britain market must be safe under the general product safety framework. For this product, assess the exposed point, loose components and foreseeable handling, then agree protective packaging and suitable user information.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of boxed pencil drawing compasses under 9017 20 10 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £860 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,860. Duty at 2% is £77.20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,937.20, so it is £787.44. Import taxes total £864.64; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £77.20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Joint stability: draw circles at different openings and check that drawing pressure does not alter the radius or make the legs wobble.

Pencil grip: fit the agreed pencil or lead, tighten the holder and check for slipping, splitting and misalignment with the centre point.

Point and finish: inspect for bent points, burrs, rough edges, loose screws and coating damage; check that the point cover stays in place.

Case and contents: compare supplied accessories with the approved sample, check case retention and inspect arrival cartons for crushing or moisture. Agree the checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A compass can look acceptable while drawing an uneven circle. Loose pivots allow the radius to change, bent legs tilt the pencil and weak holders let the lead slide. Reject samples that need constant tightening to maintain the setting.

Replacement leads may not fit the supplied holder, and a loose case insert can leave the point exposed during transport. Keep an approved sample with its case and accessories, and compare production stock against the complete pack.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.