Sourcing electric forklifts from China
Electric forklifts from China carry 4% ordinary UK duty across the relevant lines. The snapshot also attaches a 71.74% provisional anti-dumping measure, so confirm the boom-lift case exclusion for the exact truck. Machinery needs conformity assessment and the relevant marking for sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources electric forklifts.
Electric forklift duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 8427 covers fork-lift trucks and other works trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment. Electric self-propelled goods-lifting trucks with a lifting height of 1 m or more fall within 8427 10 10 90; other electric self-propelled trucks use 8427 10 90 00. The table repeats these codes for different truck types.
Both lines show 4% ordinary duty, a 71.74% residual provisional anti-dumping measure and no suspension. The reference guide identifies the remedy as a boom-lift case, with an exclusion code at 0% for goods outside its description. Have your broker confirm the exclusion and registration treatment for the exact forklift. The snapshot attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import control, waste import and export controls, and anti-dumping or countervailing registration.
For air-conditioned cabs, identify the refrigerant and charge before ordering: imported fluorinated-gas equipment must be labelled. Confirm the applicable import conditions with your broker. For shipments classed as waste under notification controls, the dispatch, destination and transit authorities must consent before shipment. Confirm waste status and the attached controls with your broker. Use finding your commodity code and the wider heading guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric counterbalance forklifts with lifting height of 1 m or more | 8427 10 10 90 | 4% | 71.74% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Self-propelled electric pallet trucks with lifting height below 1 m | 8427 10 90 00 | 4% | 71.74% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
Specify the load, mast and battery together
Specify the load weight and load centre, required lift height, residual capacity at that height, lowered mast height, free lift, fork dimensions and attachments. Give the factory your aisle layout, rack clearances, floor condition and doorway dimensions. Ask for a capacity chart for the ordered mast and attachment combination.
Agree battery chemistry, usable capacity, charging connection, charger input supply and the intended working pattern. Ask how the battery is removed or serviced and which replacement parts are available. For sale in Great Britain, machinery needs the relevant conformity assessment procedure and conformity marking. Request the declaration, supporting test records and English operating and maintenance instructions for the ordered configuration.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: an electric forklift, with trade-remedy exclusion to be confirmed under 8427 10 10 90, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,000. Duty at 4% is £440. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,440, so it is £2,288. Import taxes total £2,728; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £440 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity and documents: match the truck, mast, attachment, battery and charger identifiers to the order, capacity chart and declaration. Check the marking, warning labels and English instructions.
Mast and forks: check fork dimensions, carriage movement, chains, rollers, hydraulic leaks and mast operation. Arrange a controlled lifting demonstration against the agreed capacity chart.
Drive and safety functions: check steering, service and parking brakes, horn, operator-presence controls and emergency stop where fitted. Record faults during travel and lifting.
Battery and arrival condition: check the battery casing, cables, connectors, charger match and charging operation. On arrival, photograph transport damage and compare the supplied accessories with the packing list. See quality inspection.
What goes wrong
The headline capacity can be mistaken for the capacity available at full lift height with an attachment. A mast can also fit the racks but fail to pass through the doorway. Battery substitutions, incompatible chargers and missing controller diagnostics make acceptance and servicing harder. Put the configuration and acceptance checks in the purchase specification.
A tariff measure attached to the code can be mistaken for a tax on every forklift, or ignored without checking the case exclusion. Have the broker record the scope decision before shipment. Treat the worked order as illustrative, with trade-remedy treatment still to be confirmed; use the import duty and VAT guide for the calculation method.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on electric forklifts from China?
The relevant electric truck lines show 4% ordinary duty. A 71.74% provisional anti-dumping measure is also attached; confirm the boom-lift case exclusion for the exact forklift.
Does an electric forklift need conformity marking?
For sale in Great Britain, machinery needs the relevant conformity assessment procedure and marking. Ask for documents matching the truck, mast and attachment configuration.
What battery details should I give the factory?
Specify battery chemistry, usable capacity, charging connection, charger input supply and working pattern. Agree access for servicing and replacement battery availability.
What should I check when the forklift arrives?
Match identifiers and documents, photograph damage, inspect forks and mast, and check brakes, steering and charging. Compare the supplied configuration and accessories with the order.