Sourcing folding bicycles from China
Non-motorised folding bicycles from China normally carry 14% customs duty; other cycle classifications carry 15%, with residual anti-dumping duty of 48.50%. Confirm applicable bicycle supply safety requirements, including brake-lever setup, with the relevant authority before supplying assembled bicycles. Cambridge China Bridge sources folding bicycles.
UK duty on non-motorised folding bicycles
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 October 2026, heading 8712 covers bicycles and other cycles that are not motorised. This guide covers folding pedal bicycles without a motor. For ball-bearing bicycles shipped directly from China, the relevant listed line is 8712 00 30 90. The table also identifies alternative consignment routes and the other-cycle classification.
The listed bicycle lines carry 14% customs duty and the other-cycle line shown carries 15%. Each table row has residual anti-dumping duty of 48.50%; the supplied facts list no suspensions or countervailing duty. Confirm the exporter and supporting paperwork before budgeting. The tariff also attaches a DCMS Export Licence control. Official cultural-goods guidance concerns exports from Great Britain; ask your customs broker to confirm whether any requirement applies to your China import.
Confirm the construction and consignment route using finding your commodity code, rather than treating folding as a separate tariff category. Read the bicycle parts and tyres guide if the order includes replacement components, and the import duty and VAT guide when preparing the landed-cost budget.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball-bearing folding bicycles, other consignment routes including direct from China | 8712 00 30 90 | 14% | 48.50% residual anti-dumping |
| Ball-bearing folding bicycles consigned from Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka or Tunisia | 8712 00 30 10 | 14% | 48.50% residual anti-dumping |
| Ball-bearing folding bicycles consigned from Cambodia, Pakistan or the Philippines | 8712 00 30 20 | 14% | 48.50% residual anti-dumping |
| Other non-motorised folding cycles, if outside the ball-bearing bicycle lines | 8712 00 70 99 | 15% | 48.50% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the fold, locks and brake setup
Specify frame material, wheel and tyre compatibility, gearing, brakes, rider load, saddle adjustment, folded dimensions and complete bicycle weight. Identify the frame hinge, handlebar folding joint, locking mechanism and folded retention method in drawings and an approved sample. Agree acceptance criteria for joint play, latch engagement and repeated folding, and request test reports matching the actual frame and components.
For assembled bicycles, confirm applicable bell, brake-lever and wheel, pedal, front and rear reflector requirements with the relevant authority. Include confirmation of whether the right-hand lever should operate the front brake and the left-hand lever the rear brake, and how bicycles supplied with unassembled parts are treated. Fix the delivered assembly state and request clear assembly, latch-adjustment and folding instructions before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 300 non-motorised folding bicycles; residual anti-dumping duty also applies under 8712 00 30 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £31,500. Duty at 14% is £4,410. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £35,910, so it is £7,182. Import taxes total £11,592; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £4,410 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Folding joints: unfold and lock sampled bicycles, check full latch engagement, joint play and retention when folded, and compare with the approved sample.
Brakes and cables: check lever routing, braking action and cable clearance through the folding movement; look for pinching, stretching or rubbing.
Frame and running gear: inspect welds, alignment, wheel seating, tyre fit, steering movement, drivetrain operation and saddle-clamp grip.
Accessories and packing: check the bell, reflector arrangements, instructions and agreed batch identification; inspect hinges and paint for carton contact damage. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A folding sample can look satisfactory while the production latch needs excessive force or closes without secure engagement. Cable routing can change during assembly and trap a brake cable inside the fold. Loose handlebar joints, slipping seatposts and folded pedals rubbing the frame are defects to check explicitly, rather than relying on appearance.
Record defects against the approved sample and agree correction before shipment. On arrival, repeat the folding and brake checks after unpacking. Keep affected bicycles out of sale while investigating loose joints, damaged cables or missing equipment, and retain photographs and batch details for the supplier.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on folding bicycles from China?
The listed ball-bearing bicycle lines carry 14% customs duty plus 48.50% residual anti-dumping duty. Other cycles in the table carry 15% plus 48.50%. Confirm the code, exporter and paperwork.
Does folding change the bicycle commodity code?
The supplied tariff has no separate folding-bicycle line. Check whether the product belongs in the ball-bearing bicycle category and confirm its consignment route.
Which way should folding-bicycle brake levers operate?
For assembled bicycles, confirm the applicable brake-lever arrangement with the relevant authority, including whether the right-hand lever should operate the front brake and the left-hand lever the rear brake. Check routing on the delivered model.
What should I inspect when folding bicycles arrive?
Check hinge and handlebar locks, joint play, cable clearance, brake action, wheel seating, saddle-clamp grip and packing damage. Compare the folding movement and fitted equipment with the approved sample.