Sourcing dishwasher timers from China
Electromechanical dishwasher timer switches with a synchronous motor carry 4% UK duty from China, with no additional trade remedy recorded. Confirm the electrical safety evidence needed for mains timers with the relevant product-safety authority, and the replacement must match the appliance's programme and wiring. Cambridge China Bridge sources electromechanical dishwasher timer switches.
4% duty on dishwasher timer switches
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 9107 covers time switches with a clock or watch movement or synchronous motor. Electromechanical dishwasher timers meeting that description fall within the supplied line, 9107 00 00 90, at 4% duty from China. The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Only this commodity line was supplied.
The tariff also attaches a DCMS Export Licence control, with a document waiver for goods manufactured less than 50 years ago. Official guidance says there are no licensing requirements for importing objects of cultural interest into Great Britain. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached control and waiver should be handled for the shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the motor specification, timing mechanism and switching function. Do not assume an electronic control board belongs in this heading. For related appliance timers, see electromechanical washing machine timers.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electromechanical dishwasher timer switches with synchronous motor | 9107 00 00 90 | 4% | None |
Match the dishwasher programme and connections
Specify the appliance model and revision, original timer reference, synchronous motor supply voltage and frequency, shaft profile, mounting points, terminal layout and connector orientation. Provide a dimensioned drawing and a terminal-by-terminal switching chart rather than relying on a photograph or a supplier's compatibility list.
Define the cam sequence for filling, washing, heating, draining and drying, including any pauses controlled by the appliance's thermostat or water-level circuit. Agree contact ratings for the actual heater, pump and valve loads, motor direction, manual advancement behaviour and acceptable timing variation.
For mains timers sold as electrical equipment, confirm with the relevant product-safety authority what electrical safety evidence, CE or UKCA marking, declaration of conformity and importer identification are applicable. Official guidance says separately marketed components can themselves be fully manufactured products. Ask a testing and certification adviser to confirm the conformity route for the exact timer and intended supply.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5,000 electromechanical dishwasher timer switches under 9107 00 00 90, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £41,800. Duty at 4% is £1,672. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £43,472, so it is £8,694.40. Import taxes total £10,366.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,672 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: compare the mounting, shaft, terminals and connector clearance with the approved sample and the intended dishwasher.
Sequence: run the agreed programme in a suitable test fixture or representative appliance, checking contact transitions, external pauses and return to the stop position.
Contacts and motor: check switching under the agreed loads, contact resistance, insulation, motor starting and temperature rise through repeated operation.
Documents and packing: match model references, ratings and safety evidence to the batch; check terminal protection, moisture protection and installation information. Use an agreed quality inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A timer can fit the mounting yet have a different cam sequence or terminal map. That can put heating, filling or draining in the wrong part of the programme. Other failure points include a stalled motor, slipping gears, contacts that stick under load and bent terminals after transport.
Approve the switching chart alongside the sample, then test the replacement with the intended appliance's interlocks and loads. Keep different programme variants separately identified, and require approval before the factory changes the motor, contact material, cam stack or connector arrangement.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on dishwasher timer switches from China?
The supplied tariff line, 9107 00 00 90, carries 4% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded.
Will a timer fit if it looks like the original?
Appearance is insufficient. Match the appliance revision, shaft, mounting, terminal map, motor specification and complete switching sequence, then test it in the intended appliance.
Do dishwasher timer repair spares count as electrical equipment for waste reporting?
Environment Agency guidance says spare parts supplied to repair a finished product are not electrical and electronic equipment products for the waste electrical equipment rules.
What should I send a Chinese timer factory?
Send the original timer reference, appliance model and revision, drawings, terminal map, switching chart, motor specification and load details. Agree a sample test before approving production.