Sourcing hot-rolled steel from China
Heading 7208 has listed UK duty rates of 0% to 50% for goods from China, with separate trade remedies on many lines. Classification depends on thickness, width, coil form and processing; confirm the exact line and steel quota position before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources hot-rolled steel.
Duty, steel quotas and trade remedies
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 October 2026, heading 7208 covers hot-rolled flat products of iron or non-alloy steel, at least 600 mm wide, not clad, plated or coated. The supplied tariff snapshot lists 0% for 7208 52 91 10 and 7208 52 91 90, and 50% for the other lines, which are flagged for the steel measure. Steel tariff quotas can provide 0% treatment; ask your broker to confirm availability for the shipment.
Many coil and thinner sheet lines show residual anti-dumping duty of 0.00% and countervailing duty of 35.90%. Specified non-alloy plate and other lines show residual anti-dumping duty of 73.70%, including 7208 52 91 10 despite its 0% listed ordinary rate. Other lines have no residual remedy recorded. These are separate entries, not an all-in rate: ask your broker to confirm the applicable producer treatment and interaction with the steel measure.
The supplied snapshot records no suspensions or attached import controls. Confirm the commodity code using chemistry, dimensions, coil or sheet form, pickling, surface pattern and further processing. For the illustrative non-rectangular blanks order, the snapshot lists 50% and no residual trade remedy; confirm quota treatment before using that rate in a landed-cost calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-rolled coil with patterns in relief | 7208 10 00 00 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
| Pickled hot-rolled coil, thickness 4.75 mm or more | 7208 25 00 00 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
| Pickled hot-rolled coil, thickness below 3 mm | 7208 27 00 00 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
| Other hot-rolled coil below 3 mm, not intended for re-rolling | 7208 39 00 90 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
| Hot-rolled patterned sheet, not in coils, thickness 2 mm or more | 7208 40 00 10 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
| Non-alloy steel plate over 15 mm thick, excluding tool steel | 7208 51 20 10 | 50% outside quota | 73.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Non-alloy plate, 4.75–10 mm thick, width at least 2 050 mm, excluding tool steel | 7208 52 91 10 | 0% | 73.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Other hot-rolled sheet, not in coils, thickness below 3 mm | 7208 54 00 00 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
| Other flat products, only surface-treated or simply cut into non-rectangular shapes | 7208 90 80 10 | 50% outside quota | None |
Specify the steel and its processing condition
State the grade, intended use, delivery condition, thickness and width tolerances, flatness, edge condition and surface acceptance criteria. For coil, agree the internal diameter and maximum coil mass your equipment can handle. For plate, agree cut dimensions and squareness. Distinguish pickled material from material with mill scale, and specify any oiling and protection against moisture.
Request heat-linked mill inspection certificates showing chemistry and mechanical results. Agree impact testing or ultrasonic examination where the application needs it. For structural use, check the product's conformity documentation before ordering. Government guidance confirms that construction products bearing legitimately affixed CE marking can continue to be supplied in Great Britain; a grade description alone is not a useful purchasing substitute for the supporting documents.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of hot-rolled non-rectangular blanks, illustrative order under 7208 52 91 10, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,000, so it is £4,000. 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
Traceability: match heat, coil and bundle identifiers to the mill certificates, packing list and purchase specification. Compare the reported chemistry and mechanical results with the ordered grade.
Dimensions: measure thickness across the width, width and cut length; check plate flatness, squareness and coil edge alignment against the agreed tolerances.
Surface: inspect for pitting, rolled-in scale, laminations, edge cracks and handling damage. For pickled material, check for residual scale and rust beneath the wrapping.
Packing and origin: photograph wet wrapping, damaged straps and exposed edges on arrival. Ask for upstream material records. Government guidance advises importers to include assurances in contracts that imports are not of Russian origin.
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What goes wrong
An order described only as mild steel leaves grade, toughness and delivery condition unresolved. Thin spots reduce usable yield; poor flatness causes cutting and assembly problems; laminations may become visible only after cutting. Set acceptance criteria before production and retain inspection photographs linked to each heat or coil.
A low ordinary duty rate can hide a substantial trade remedy, while an assumed quota allocation can change the landed cost. Do not approve shipment from the supplier's product name alone. Match the actual material to the tariff line and have the broker review the duty treatment before dispatch.
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 hot-rolled steel from China?
The snapshot lists 0% or 50%, depending on the line. Many lines also show 35.90% residual countervailing duty or 73.70% residual anti-dumping duty. Confirm steel quota and producer treatment separately.
What should a hot-rolled steel mill certificate show?
Ask for the grade, heat number, chemistry, delivery condition and mechanical test results. Match these to the actual coil or plate identifiers and the purchase specification.
Can CE-marked structural steel be sold in Great Britain?
Government guidance permits continued supply of construction products with legitimately affixed CE marking. Check the supporting documents for the particular product and intended structural use.
What should I check when steel coils arrive?
Check coil identifiers, thickness, width, edge alignment, rust, wet wrapping and handling damage. Record findings before processing and compare them with the agreed acceptance criteria.