Sourcing garter springs from China

Garter spring duty and classification

Heading 7320 covers springs and leaves for springs of iron or steel. This guide concerns garter springs: helical springs whose ends join to form a ring, commonly used to load a seal lip. See the steel springs guide for the wider heading.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, every supplied commodity line carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

The table gives conditional classification alternatives, rather than interchangeable codes for the same spring. Confirm whether the construction meets the coil tension, other helical or another spring description, including whether it is hot-worked. Give your broker the drawing, material and manufacturing method, and check finding your commodity code before shipment.

Specify the ring, joint and working tension

Specify the wire grade and diameter, coil diameter, free ring diameter, winding direction and joint construction. Show how the ends engage, the permitted joint bulge and the seal groove profile. Agree circumferential tension at the installed diameter, its tolerance and the test fixture, rather than approving appearance alone.

State the operating temperature, contact fluid, corrosion exposure and required resistance to permanent stretch. Ask for material certificates and agreed heat-treatment records. UK REACH restrictions address chemical risks in articles as well as substances and mixtures; check the alloy, coating and any supplied lubricant against applicable restrictions.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 200,000 joined garter springs; illustrative order, assuming classification as coil tension springs under 7320 20 85 90, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,500, so it is £3,900. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Geometry: measure wire diameter, coil diameter and free ring diameter against the drawing; check that the joined ring seats in the intended groove.

Tension: measure circumferential tension at the agreed installed diameter using the agreed fixture; compare samples across the batch and check recovery after stretching.

Joint: inspect end engagement, exposed wire ends and local bulging; stretch assembled samples to check that the connection stays secure and does not snag the seal.

Material and packing: match certificates to the supplied batch, check finish and corrosion, and separate rings so they arrive without tangles or distortion. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A ring can match the free diameter yet apply the wrong tension when installed. Wire diameter, coil geometry and initial tension affect performance. A bulky joint can lift the spring from its groove, while poor engagement can open during assembly. Test joined rings in the intended seal assembly before approving production.

Permanent stretch leaves the seal underloaded, and rough wire ends can damage the seal lip. Plated high-strength springs can suffer hydrogen embrittlement without appropriate baking after plating. Agree the finish and treatment records, then check arrival samples for joint security, tension recovery and corrosion.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.