Sourcing EEA copolymer pellets from China
EEA copolymer pellets from China normally carry 6% UK duty; the listed 0% suspension on the residual line covers other polymers. Confirm composition and the UK REACH position for monomers and additives before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources EEA copolymer pellets.
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EEA duty and neighbouring copolymer lines
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3901 covers polymers of ethylene in primary forms. EEA means ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer. The supplied tariff has no named EEA line: 3901 90 80 99 is the candidate residual line, subject to composition checks. The other table rows identify different copolymers that buyers should distinguish from EEA, rather than alternative EEA classifications.
The candidate line carries 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Its 0% suspension names specified styrene-ethylene/butylene and ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers, not ordinary EEA. Do not apply that suspension simply because a supplier calls its material an ethylene copolymer. Confirm the commodity code; see the related EMA guide for wider heading context.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches import and export waste controls to these lines. For material supplied from China as waste, confirm the applicable import requirement with your customs broker before shipping. For notified waste entering England, shipment requires consent from the competent authorities of destination, dispatch and transit. Ask the supplier to document whether the pellets are prime resin, off-grade material or recycled feedstock.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other ethylene polymers: candidate line for EEA pellets | 3901 90 80 99 | 6% | None |
| Specified ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, distinct from EEA | 3901 90 80 53 | 6% | None |
| Ethylene-isobutyl acrylate-methacrylic acid terpolymer pellets | 3901 90 80 75 | 6% | None |
| Ethylene-n-butyl acrylate-carbon monoxide terpolymer pellets | 3901 90 80 85 | 6% | None |
Specify the EEA grade and processing trial
Specify ethyl acrylate content, melt flow rate with its test conditions, density, colour, additive package and whether the material is prime or recycled. Name the intended process, such as film extrusion, coating or cable compounding. Agree acceptance limits against the approved grade and retain a sample. Trial the pellets in your formulation for adhesion, flexibility, surface appearance and processing stability.
Confirm with HSE the UK REACH registration position for the polymer, monomers and additives in the actual composition. Check the supply-chain registration position rather than accepting a general polymer exemption statement. For food-contact applications, request a grade-specific declaration of compliance and supporting migration evidence covering the intended use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of EEA copolymer pellets; values are illustrative under 3901 90 80 99, invoiced at £26,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £28,400. Duty at 6% is £1,704. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,104, so it is £6,020.80. Import taxes total £7,724.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,704 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: check the producer, grade and batch on bag labels against the order, datasheet and batch certificate of analysis.
Properties: check ethyl acrylate content and melt flow against the agreed limits; compare a retained sample and run a processing trial.
Contamination: check for black specks, gels, fines, mixed pellets and undisclosed recycled material.
Packing: check seals, torn bags, wet liners, pallet condition and batch segregation on arrival. Record discrepancies before releasing stock; see quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A similar trade name can conceal a different acrylate comonomer or additive package. Changes in melt flow or ethyl acrylate content can alter processing and the finished compound's performance. Gels and contamination can spoil film appearance, while damaged bags introduce dirt. Keep the approved formulation and batch evidence together, and quarantine suspect lots pending checks.
A suspension for another ethylene copolymer can also be copied into an EEA quotation. Cost the confirmed EEA classification, and separate the resin specification from claims about the finished product's food-contact suitability.
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 EEA pellets from China?
The candidate residual line 3901 90 80 99 carries 6%. Its listed 0% suspension does not name ordinary EEA. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is shown in the supplied tariff facts.
Are EEA and EMA pellets interchangeable?
They use different acrylate comonomers. Do not approve substitution by trade name alone: compare composition, melt flow, additives and performance in your own processing trial.
Do EEA pellets need UK REACH registration?
Confirm with HSE whether registration requirements apply to the polymer, monomers or additives in the actual composition. Check the supply-chain registration position for that composition.
What should I ask for with food-contact EEA?
Request a declaration of compliance naming the grade and supporting migration evidence for the intended use. Match the documents to the formulation you are buying.