Sourcing electromechanical relays from China
Electromechanical relays from China normally carry 2% UK duty, with 0% available for narrowly specified suspended products. Check the exact relay specification and mercury import controls before ordering; confirm the applicable electrical safety requirements for mains-voltage relays with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources electromechanical relays.
Relay duty and conditional suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 8536 covers switching and connecting apparatus for voltages not exceeding 1,000 V, including relays. The selected relay lines have a normal China duty of 2%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. For other products in this heading, see the circuit breakers, switches and connectors guide.
The snapshot lists 0% suspensions for specified power relays under 8536 41 90 40 and specified appliance-control relays under 8536 49 00 99. Match every specification and footnote before claiming relief. The suspension under 8536 41 90 89 covers a named photovoltaic relay, rather than an electromechanical relay. Suspensions exclude mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing the specified products.
All selected lines carry mercury import and export control flags. Listed mercury-added products are prohibited from import into Great Britain; obtain written confirmation that the relay contains no mercury. Confirm any applicable exception with your customs broker. For 8536 41 90 40, the tariff also attaches supplementary-unit reporting: ask the broker to confirm the declaration requirement. Confirm the commodity code using the full datasheet, including coil and contact ratings.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other relays not exceeding 60 V and 2 A | 8536 41 10 90 | 2% | None |
| Specified electromechanical power relays | 8536 41 90 40 | 2% | None |
| Other relays not exceeding 60 V, exceeding 2 A | 8536 41 90 89 | 2% | None |
| Specified cube-shaped relays for household appliance control boards | 8536 49 00 60 | 2% | None |
| Other relays exceeding 60 V | 8536 49 00 99 | 2% | None |
Specify the coil, contacts and mounting
State whether the coil uses alternating or direct current, its operating voltage, pickup and release behaviour, and whether the relay is latching. Specify the contact arrangement, contact material, load type, switching current and voltage, and required electrical endurance. Give the factory a pin drawing, mounting method, enclosure dimensions and sealing requirement. Approve a sample in the intended circuit.
Relays designed for 50 to 1,000 V alternating current fall within the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. They need technical documentation, a declaration of conformity, UKCA or CE marking and importer identification. Match the model and ratings in the test reports to the ordered part. Discuss the evidence needed for the intended application through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5,000 electromechanical signal relays under 8536 41 10 90, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,600. Duty at 2% is £252. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,852, so it is £2,570.40. Import taxes total £2,822.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £252 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: compare the model, coil marking, contact ratings and batch identification with the approved sample, datasheet and order.
Fit: check pin positions, pin straightness, enclosure dimensions and socket or circuit-board fit; inspect for cracked cases and damaged seals.
Operation: measure coil resistance, pickup and release behaviour, contact resistance and insulation against the agreed specification.
Load performance: test sampled relays with the intended load, including its starting behaviour; check for sticking contacts, excessive heating and inconsistent switching.
What goes wrong
A matching case and pin layout can hide a different coil or contact arrangement. A relay rated for a resistive load may perform poorly with a motor or lamp load. Freeze the approved construction and load conditions in the order, and compare bulk samples with the approved part.
A supplier may quote a suspended tariff rate without checking the detailed product description. Do not treat every relay in a suspended code as eligible. Missing model-specific test reports, substituted contact materials and unreadable batch markings also make faults harder to investigate.
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 electromechanical relays from China?
The selected lines normally carry 2%. Specified power and appliance-control relays can qualify for 0% suspensions. The snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does a low-voltage coil mean the relay is classified as low voltage?
Do not classify from the coil label alone. Supply the broker with both coil and contact voltage ratings, current ratings, construction and intended use.
What should I test before accepting a relay shipment?
Check pin fit, coil resistance, pickup and release behaviour, contact resistance and insulation. Test sampled parts with the intended load and compare results with the agreed specification.
Can I import mercury-containing relays from China?
Obtain a written mercury declaration and ask your broker to confirm whether any mercury-related import prohibition or exception applies in Great Britain before ordering.