Sourcing electronic synthesisers from China
Electronic synthesisers from China carry a flat 2% UK duty across the relevant instrument lines, with no listed trade remedy. Before sale in Great Britain, check electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility evidence for the instrument and its power supply. Cambridge China Bridge sources electronic synthesisers.
Synthesiser duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9207 covers instruments whose sound is produced, or must be amplified, electrically. Keyboard synthesisers have the specific code 9207 10 50 00. The table distinguishes product types within that line; keyboardless models need their classification confirmed.
The supplied tariff extract lists 2% duty for goods from China throughout this heading, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The synthesiser and other electronic-instrument lines attach a cultural-object export licence measure. Official guidance requires an export licence for objects of cultural interest leaving Great Britain; ask your broker to confirm how the tariff entry affects any later export.
Confirm the commodity code using the actual instrument specification, especially for desktop and modular products. For the broader product family, see digital pianos and electric guitars.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analogue keyboard synthesisers | 9207 10 50 00 | 2% | None |
| Other electronic instruments, subject to classification of keyboardless synthesisers | 9207 90 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the sound engine and connections
State whether the synthesiser is analogue, digital or hybrid; specify the sound engine, simultaneous voices, keyboard action, velocity response, aftertouch, patch storage and supplied sounds. For desktop and modular models, define the controls and connections instead of assuming a keyboard. Agree the firmware version and approve a playable sample.
Specify audio outputs, headphone output, pedal compatibility, computer connections, external control connections and the supplied power adapter. For mains-powered instruments and adapters, confirm with the relevant authority which electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility and UKCA or CE marking requirements apply in Great Britain. Electrical equipment covered by the safety rules must have easily understandable English instructions. Also confirm any electrical-waste obligations and additional rules for wireless or network-connected models with the relevant authority.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 300 compact keyboard synthesisers under 9207 10 50 00, invoiced at £54,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £60,000. Duty at 2% is £1,200. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £61,200, so it is £12,240. Import taxes total £13,440; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,200 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Sound and memory: compare factory patches with the approved sample, sweep oscillator pitch and filter controls, listen for hum and unwanted distortion, and confirm saved patches remain after restarting.
Keys and controls: play every key at soft and hard velocities, check aftertouch where specified, and operate knobs, sliders, wheels and buttons for sticking, jumps or inconsistent response.
Connections and power: test every supplied connection and pedal function; match the adapter, plug, ratings, model identification and conformity documents to the agreed product.
Packing and documents: check English instructions, accessories and serial identification against the order, then inspect the instrument after the agreed packed-carton test. Use quality inspection to record failures before shipment.
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What goes wrong
A convincing preset demonstration can hide noisy outputs, uneven key response or controls that jump between settings. Test with headphones and the intended external equipment. Check that stored patches survive restarting and that the supplied firmware behaves like the approved sample.
A substituted adapter, changed keybed or revised circuit board can leave the shipment different from the sample and its evidence. Record approved components and firmware in the purchase specification. Inspect protruding knobs and the keybed after the packing test, since carton damage alone does not show whether the instrument still works.
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 electronic synthesisers from China?
The supplied tariff extract lists 2% duty under 9207 10 50 00 and the other instrument lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Which commodity code covers a desktop synthesiser?
The specific synthesiser line is within keyboard instruments. Confirm a keyboardless desktop model against its actual functions rather than automatically using the keyboard synthesiser code.
What compliance evidence should I request?
Request electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility evidence matching the instrument and adapter, plus the relevant declaration and marking. Identify wireless and network features before agreeing the compliance scope.
How should I inspect synthesisers before shipment?
Compare sounds with the approved sample, play every key, operate every control, test connections and patch retention, and repeat functional checks after the agreed packing test.