Sourcing drawn tool-steel wire from China
Drawn tool-steel wire from China carries 0% UK duty across the relevant lines of heading 7229, with no anti-dumping duty shown. Choose the code from the steel chemistry and confirm whether the shipment is wire or wire rod; the tariff also attaches waste controls. Cambridge China Bridge sources drawn tool-steel wire.
Duty and classification for drawn tool-steel wire
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7229 covers wire of other alloy steel. Drawn tool-steel wire should be assessed against the high-speed steel, listed carbon/chromium/molybdenum chemistry, or other alloy steel lines. Cold-work and hot-work examples in the table share the other-alloy code where their chemistry fits. See the wider alloy steel and welding wire guide.
The relevant lines show 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, no steel measure and no suspensions. The snapshot attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. If buying scrap or discarded wire from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable waste procedure before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the heat analysis, product form and manufacturing route. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether these lines fall within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and when any requirements apply; ask the mill for emissions data and review the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawn high-speed tool-steel wire | 7229 90 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Tool-steel wire matching the listed carbon, chromium and molybdenum limits | 7229 90 50 00 | 0% | None |
| Other alloy tool-steel wire, cold-work grades subject to chemistry | 7229 90 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify grade, annealing and drawn condition
State the tool-steel grade and chemical limits, intended tooling application, drawn diameter and tolerance, roundness, and whether supply is annealed or in another agreed condition. Agree hardness, surface finish, allowable seams and decarburisation, coil dimensions, winding and rust protection. Identify which properties are checked as delivered and which are assessed after your heat treatment.
Ask for heat-linked chemistry and test results rather than a generic grade declaration. Trial the wire through your straightening, cutting and heat-treatment process before approving repeat supply. UK REACH applies to substances on their own, in mixtures and in articles; review the alloy and any coating or lubricant accordingly.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of annealed drawn alloy tool-steel wire in coils under 7229 90 90 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,500, so it is £4,900. 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
Traceability: match coil tags and heat numbers to the chemistry report and purchase specification; keep different heats identifiable.
Dimensions: measure diameter and roundness around the circumference and along sampled wire; check winding and straightening behaviour.
Condition: check delivered hardness, surface seams, drawing marks and rust; arrange decarburisation checks where your tooling process needs them.
Packing: check moisture protection, coil restraints and protection against crushed or kinked wire; photograph damage before unpacking.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A familiar grade name can hide different chemistry or delivery condition. Wire that is too hard can be difficult to straighten or machine, while seams and decarburisation can undermine the finished tool. Accepting a clean surface alone leaves these properties unchecked.
Agree acceptance criteria and a process trial before shipment. On arrival, separate suspect coils and retain their tags, samples and reports while investigating. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks around the properties your finished tooling needs.
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 drawn tool-steel wire from China?
The relevant lines of heading 7229 carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff snapshot, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure or suspension shown.
Which commodity code covers drawn tool-steel wire?
Check high-speed steel under 7229 90 20 00, the listed chemistry under 7229 90 50 00, or other alloy steel under 7229 90 90 00. Confirm the heat analysis and product form before declaring.
Should I order tool-steel wire annealed?
Agree the delivery condition with whoever straightens, machines and heat-treats the wire. Specify delivered hardness and trial a sample through that process before approving the batch.
Do waste controls apply to new tool-steel wire?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. The tariff attaches waste controls; for scrap or discarded wire from China, confirm the procedure with your customs broker.