Sourcing drill bits and saw blades from China
Drill bits, masonry drills, milling cutters and other interchangeable tools from China pay 0% UK duty, and circular saw blades 2%, with no anti-dumping duty. Performance comes from the steel or carbide grade, heat treatment and coating, and blades must carry their maximum speed, so the specification decides the product. Cambridge China Bridge sources own-brand drill bits and blades.
Drill bits, taps and cutting tools pay 0% UK duty from China, circular saw blades 2%. Steel grade, coatings, shanks and marking to specify.
Duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, masonry drills, high speed steel drills for metal, diamond-tipped drills, milling tools and other interchangeable tools carried 0% duty on goods from China, while circular saw blades, with a steel working part or other including diamond segments, carried 2%. No line carried an anti-dumping measure.
A mixed accessory kit may be classified as a set or as its separate items, so confirm the commodity code for the way it is packed.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masonry drills | 8207 50 30 00 | 0% | None |
| Drills for metal, high speed steel | 8207 50 60 00 | 0% | None |
| Drills with working part of diamond | 8207 50 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Milling tools for metal | 8207 60 70 00 | 0% | None |
| Circular saw blades, working part of steel | 8202 31 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Circular saw blades, other, including parts | 8202 39 00 00 | 2% | None |
What makes a bit or blade good
Drill bits are sold on the material: plain high speed steel, cobalt alloys for hard metals, carbide tips for masonry. Specify the grade, the hardness after heat treatment, the point angle and any coating, and test samples on the materials your customers drill. The shank matters as much as the tip: straight, hex, and the SDS systems used by rotary hammers have to fit UK tools.
For saw blades, specify the diameter, bore, tooth count and tooth grade, and for diamond blades the segment height and bond. Every blade should carry its maximum operating speed, and it must be above the speed of the tools it is sold for; check the marking at inspection.
Packaging and sets
Accessories are sold on the peg or in cases, so the packaging is half the product: blister cards, cases that close, and sizes marked on each bit. Agree the artwork and case quality with the factory, and check that the sizes in the case match the labels.
The hand tools and fixings guide covers running an own-brand accessory range alongside hand tools, and the power tools guide the tools themselves.
Consistency across batches
The complaint that ends accessory ranges is inconsistency: one batch lasts, the next goes blunt. Ask for hardness readings with each batch and test a sample from every shipment against the approved sample.
Cambridge China Bridge sources own-brand drill bits, saw blades and tool accessories to a written specification, with batch testing and packaging checked before shipment. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on drill bits from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, masonry drills, HSS metal drills and diamond drills carried 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty. Circular saw blades carried 2%.
What should a drill bit specification state?
The material and grade, hardness after heat treatment, point angle, coating and shank type, with samples tested on the materials customers drill.
What marking should a saw blade carry?
Its maximum operating speed, which must be above the speed of the tools it is sold for, along with diameter, bore and tooth count.
How do I keep accessory quality consistent?
Ask for hardness readings with each batch and test a sample from every shipment against the approved sample.