Sourcing horseshoe nails from China

Horseshoe nail duty and classification

Heading 7317 covers iron or steel nails and similar articles, excluding articles with copper heads. For loose horseshoe nails, distinguish those made from wire under 7317 00 60 00 from those not made from wire under 7317 00 80 00. The table shows different shank profiles sharing these codes; confirm the manufacturing route with the factory.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, both relevant lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, steel measure, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Import VAT is separate; see UK import duty and VAT.

Give your customs broker the material, manufacturing process, photographs and product drawing to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see concrete and steel nails.

Head fit, shank taper and point geometry

Specify the head profile and dimensions against the intended horseshoe nail holes. Record overall length, shank width and thickness, taper, neck shape, point bevel and finish on a drawing. Keep an approved sample with the order rather than relying on the supplier's size name.

Ask an experienced farrier to assess sample head seating and shank behaviour before approving production. Agree bend and clinching checks, acceptable surface defects, box contents and batch identification. For consumer sales in Great Britain, general product safety rules require safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use; their scope includes products intended or foreseeably used by consumers.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial wholesale order of 2,000 boxes of wire-made horseshoe nails under 7317 00 60 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,000, so it is £1,200. 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

Dimensions: measure length, shank width and thickness, taper and head profile against the agreed drawing; compare samples from different boxes.

Head and point: check seating in the intended shoe, head alignment, consistent point bevel and freedom from unintended burrs.

Material and finish: check for cracks, rust and surface damage; perform the agreed bend and clinching checks against the approved sample.

Packing: verify the nail profile, stated quantity and batch identification on each box; check for mixed sizes and moisture. Define these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A supplier's size name can conceal a different head or shank profile. Poor head seating, inconsistent point bevels and bent shanks undermine fit and handling. Brittle nails can crack during clinching, while overly soft shanks can deform during driving. Assess samples against the intended shoe and agreed tests before accepting a batch.

Mixed profiles and damp packing make stock difficult to use and can leave nails rusty on arrival. Keep batches identifiable, photograph defects and separate suspect stock pending assessment. A visually similar replacement should go through the same sample approval process.

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.