Sourcing GPS, radar and radio remote controls
Radar, GPS receivers, chartplotters and radio remote controls from China pay 0% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty. All are radio equipment under the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017, needing a declaration and radio, EMC and safety tests, and marine radar for ships covered by SOLAS needs marine equipment approval. Cambridge China Bridge sources this equipment.
GPS and other navigation receivers, radar sets and radio remote controls from China pay 0% UK duty. Radio Equipment Regulations, marine approval and an example.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, radar apparatus, radio navigational receivers, other radio navigational aid apparatus and radio remote control apparatus carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. GPS trackers with a mobile network connection and smartwatches are usually classified as communication apparatus in heading 8517, so confirm the commodity code for connected devices.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radar apparatus, not for civil aircraft | 8526 10 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Radio navigational receivers, such as GPS units and chartplotters | 8526 91 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Other radio navigational aid apparatus | 8526 91 80 00 | 0% | None |
| Radio remote control apparatus, not for civil aircraft | 8526 92 00 90 | 0% | None |
Radio rules and marine approval
Every one of these products is radio equipment under the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017, so the manufacturer needs a declaration of conformity and tests to the relevant radio standard, such as EN 303 413 for satellite navigation receivers or EN 300 220 for short range devices like remote controls, plus EMC and electrical safety. The UKCA or CE marking, the importer's name and address and English instructions must be on or with the product.
Radar and navigation equipment for ships covered by the SOLAS convention needs marine equipment type approval, the wheel mark, and radar performance to IEC 62388, which leisure-boat electronics usually do not carry. Battery-powered units bring waste electrical and battery producer duties. See the drones guide, the radios guide and WEEE for importers.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 1,500 marine GPS chartplotters, entered under 8526 91 20 00: £300,000 free on board plus £5,000 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £305,000. Radio navigation receivers carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £305,000, £61,000, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Units with lithium batteries or large screens may ship by air or sea; the duty is 0% either way. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
What goes wrong
Navigation and remote control products fail on radio compliance, accuracy and sealing. Remote controls transmit on frequencies or at powers not allowed in the UK, radio test reports cover a different model or firmware, and GPS units take too long to get a fix or drift in position. Marine units sold as waterproof let water in at buttons and connectors, screens are unreadable in sunlight, chart data and map licences are missing, and firmware updates stop after launch.
Check the radio test reports and declaration name the exact model, frequency and firmware, measure time to first fix and position accuracy against a reference, immersion-test marine units to the claimed IP rating, check screen brightness in sunlight, confirm the rights to any chart or map data, and agree how firmware updates will be delivered and for how long.
Cambridge China Bridge sources GPS receivers, chartplotters, radar sets and radio remote controls for marine, outdoor and industrial brands, with radio compliance checked before production. See how we source navigation electronics.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on GPS receivers from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, radar, radio navigation and radio remote control apparatus of heading 8526 carried 0% duty from China.
Which rules apply to radio remote controls?
The Radio Equipment Regulations 2017, with tests to the relevant radio standard such as EN 300 220.
Does marine radar need special approval?
Radar for ships covered by SOLAS needs marine equipment type approval and performance to IEC 62388.
Are GPS trackers with a SIM in heading 8526?
Usually not. Devices with a mobile connection are usually classified as communication apparatus in heading 8517.