Sourcing high-carbon music wire from China
UK duty on high-carbon music wire from China ranges from 0% to 50% in the supplied tariff record. Uncoated wire carries 50%; zinc-coated variants carry 0%. Classify by carbon content, coating and cross-section, rather than the name music wire. Cambridge China Bridge sources high-carbon music wire.
UK duty on high-carbon music wire
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7217 covers wire of iron or non-alloy steel. The uncoated high-carbon lines shown carry 50% third-country duty for goods from China; the zinc-coated lines carry 0%. The larger-size branches have a maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeding 3 mm. Zinc-coated rows apply only where that finish matches the ordered goods.
No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded on these lines. The tariff attaches waste import and export controls to other high-carbon wire under 7217 90 90 00. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether these affect your consignment from China. For waste imported into England under notification controls, shipment can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved.
Confirm the commodity code using the mill chemistry, actual finish and maximum cross-sectional dimension. Our published heading guide describes quota relief for uncoated wire; have your broker confirm availability and eligibility before relying on it. For the related spring-wire family within this heading, see oil-tempered spring wire.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated high-carbon music wire, cross-section exceeding 3 mm | 7217 10 90 10 | 50% | None |
| Uncoated high-carbon music wire, other | 7217 10 90 90 | 50% | None |
| Zinc-coated high-carbon music wire, cross-section exceeding 3 mm | 7217 20 90 10 | 0% | None |
| Zinc-coated high-carbon music wire, other | 7217 20 90 90 | 0% | None |
Specify music wire for the intended use
State whether the wire is for instrument strings or spring manufacture. Specify the steel grade, carbon content, diameter and tolerance, tensile strength range, hard-drawn condition and surface finish. Agree how samples will be tested and accepted. A description such as music wire does not replace a material specification.
Define coil weight, inner and outer diameter, winding direction, permitted joins and protective packing. Ask for heat-linked chemistry and tensile results, then trial the wire on your own winding or forming equipment. Keep the approved sample and acceptance criteria with the purchase order.
For Russian steel sanctions compliance, official guidance says traders should be prepared to provide supply-chain documentation consistent with the prohibitions. Request traceable upstream steel records as well as the Chinese drawing mill's records; arrange a factory verification if the supplier's production capability is unclear.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of uncoated high-carbon music wire under 7217 10 90 90, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £43,000. Duty at 50% is £21,500. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £64,500, so it is £12,900. Import taxes total £34,400; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £21,500 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure diameter along sample coils and around the circumference; compare variation and ovality with the agreed tolerance.
Material: match coil labels and heat numbers to chemistry and tensile results; arrange independent testing where the evidence needs checking.
Surface: inspect for rust, pits, drawing scratches and damaged coating; carry out the agreed wrap or forming trial on samples.
Coils: check net weight, coil dimensions, winding and packing; test payout for crossed turns, tangles and unexpected joins.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A supplier can deliver wire that meets nominal diameter but misses the agreed strength or forming behaviour. It may break during winding or produce inconsistent springs. Surface scratches and rust also create rejection risks, while crossed turns stop production even when the material certificate looks acceptable.
Mixed heats or certificates that cannot be matched to coils make failures hard to investigate. Agree batch identification and retain samples before shipment. Do not accept a finish description on the invoice without checking the wire itself, because uncoated and zinc-coated lines carry different recorded duties.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on music wire from China?
The supplied tariff record lists 50% for uncoated high-carbon wire and 0% for zinc-coated variants. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. Ask your broker to confirm any quota relief.
Is music wire the same as oil-tempered spring wire?
Do not treat the names as interchangeable. Specify hard-drawn or oil-tempered condition explicitly, together with chemistry, tensile strength and the forming performance your application needs.
What should a music-wire test certificate show?
Ask for the heat number, chemistry, diameter, delivery condition and tensile results. Match the certificate to the coil labels and agree any additional wrap or forming tests before ordering.
How do I check whether imported music wire will run properly?
Trial an approved sample on your own equipment. Check payout, winding, breakage and the finished part against agreed acceptance criteria, then repeat the relevant checks on production samples.