Sourcing washing machine timers from China
Electromechanical washing machine timers with a synchronous motor carry 4% UK duty from China under 9107 00 00 90. Separately supplied components may need individual conformity assessment and marking, so confirm the route for your intended use. Cambridge China Bridge sources electromechanical washing machine timers.
4% duty on synchronous-motor timers
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 9107 covers time switches with a clock or watch movement or synchronous motor. The supplied extract contains only the relevant other-goods line, 9107 00 00 90, carrying 4% duty from China. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an entry labelled DCMS Export Licence. Official guidance states that importing objects of cultural interest into Great Britain has no licensing requirement. Ask your customs broker to confirm the relevance of the attached entry to your shipment of newly manufactured timers.
Confirm the commodity code using the motor specification, timing mechanism and switching diagram. Electronic controllers without a clock movement or synchronous motor may fall under 8536 instead. For related products within the wider heading, see mechanical defrost timers.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electromechanical washing machine timers with synchronous motor | 9107 00 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify the cam sequence and appliance fit
State whether the timer controls the washing programme, a wash period or the spin period. Supply the appliance model, mounting drawing, shaft profile, knob position, terminal layout and wiring diagram. Specify motor voltage and frequency, rotation direction, timing tolerance, contact ratings for each load and the switching sequence. Match the approved sample to the actual appliance, rather than relying on an external resemblance.
Separately supplied components may need individual conformity assessment and marking. For mains timers, confirm with the relevant authority whether electrical safety rules require a declaration of conformity, CE or UKCA marking for Great Britain and importer identification. Electrical equipment, including spare parts, falls within hazardous-substance restrictions unless specifically excluded. Record whether the order is for appliance assembly or replacement stock, and agree the applicable assessment with your testing adviser.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5,000 electromechanical washing machine timers under 9107 00 00 90, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £41,500. Duty at 4% is £1,660. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £43,160, so it is £8,632. Import taxes total £10,292; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,660 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: compare mounting points, shaft length and profile, connector orientation and terminal identification with the approved drawing and appliance sample.
Sequence: record contact continuity throughout the cam cycle, checking the switching order, pause positions, end stop and repeatability against the agreed programme.
Load: test the actual intended motor, pump or heater load where applicable; check contact heating, sticking, arcing and timing while loaded.
Arrival: check cracked housings, bent terminals, shaft damage, model and batch identification, and agreement between the supplied wiring diagram and the inspected timer. Use the inspection guide to document acceptance.
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What goes wrong
A timer can fit the panel yet switch the wrong circuits because its cam sequence or terminal arrangement differs. Other failure points include timing drift from an unsuitable motor frequency, contacts that stick under the intended load, loose shafts and damaged gears. Approve both the switching diagram and a functional sample, then compare production samples with them.
Keep replacement-part status separate from assumptions about complete appliances. Environment Agency guidance treats spare parts supplied to repair a finished product as outside the electrical-equipment definition for waste electrical equipment reporting. Record the intended repair use rather than applying complete-appliance obligations automatically.
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 washing machine timers from China?
Synchronous-motor timers under 9107 00 00 90 carry 4% duty from China in the supplied tariff data. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is listed.
Will a timer with the same shaft fit my washing machine?
Check the mounting, terminal layout, rotation direction and cam switching sequence as well as the shaft. Test an approved sample in the intended appliance.
Do electromechanical washing machine timers need CE or UKCA marking?
Separately supplied components may need individual assessment and marking. Confirm the intended-use route; ask the relevant authority which electrical safety and CE or UKCA marking requirements apply to mains timers in Great Britain.
Are replacement washing machine timers covered by WEEE reporting?
Environment Agency guidance says spare parts supplied for repair of a finished product are not electrical and electronic equipment products for these rules. Keep evidence of the intended repair use.