Sourcing electric motor brush holders from China

Brush-holder duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 19 October 2026, heading 8503 covers parts suitable solely or principally for electric motors or generators. For brush holders, investigate 8503 00 91 99 for cast iron or cast steel and 8503 00 98 99 for other construction. The table shows product variants under these residual lines, not separate dedicated brush-holder codes.

Both lines carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Their 0% suspensions concern specified products or authorised offshore-wind rotor manufacture; do not assume an ordinary brush holder qualifies. The other-materials line attaches “Supplementary unit import”. Ask your customs broker to confirm its application and the quantity unit before declaration.

Supply the drawing, material breakdown, intended motor and assembly contents when confirming the commodity code. Separately supplied carbon brushes fall under heading 8545, as explained in the reference guide. For related motor parts, see electric motor commutators.

Specify the brush box, spring and insulation

Specify brush width and thickness, brush-box internal dimensions and clearance, mounting-hole positions, brush angle and distance from the commutator. State the holder alloy, plating, insulating material and operating temperature. Define whether the supply includes springs, brushes, flexible leads, terminals or an assembled brush plate.

Agree spring force across the usable brush travel, terminal attachment and lead routing. Approve a sample fitted to the intended motor, checking brush movement both cold and after heating. Confirm with the relevant authority whether the supplied motor parts need conformity marking and which UKCA or CE marking requirements apply to the finished motor or machine.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order only: 5,000 brass electric motor brush holders, classification confirmed under 8503 00 98 99, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,500. Duty at 2% is £430. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,930, so it is £4,386. Import taxes total £4,816; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £430 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: gauge the brush box and mounting features against the drawing; slide the specified brush through its working travel and check for burrs or binding.

Spring: measure force at the agreed brush positions and check retention, alignment and free movement after repeated compression.

Insulation and connections: inspect moulding cracks and exposed conductors; test insulation and terminal pull strength using the agreed methods and acceptance criteria.

Arrival condition: check for corrosion, distorted holders, loose terminals and mixed variants; match carton and batch identification to inspection records. Agree these checks through the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A holder can fit the mounting holes yet hold the brush at the wrong angle. Tight clearance, stamping burrs or heat-distorted insulation can prevent the brush advancing as it wears. Excessive clearance allows movement; unsuitable spring force can contribute to poor contact or accelerated wear.

Loose lead connections and substituted insulating materials can pass a visual comparison but fail in service. Keep the approved assembly and drawing together, require approval for material changes and test samples in the intended motor. Official waste-electrical-equipment guidance says spare parts supplied to repair a finished product are not electrical and electronic equipment products.

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.