Sourcing isolated gate-driver ICs from China
Isolated gate-driver ICs within heading 8542 carry 0% UK duty from China across the supplied lines, with no listed trade remedies. Treat the chip as a component: obtain substance declarations and assess the finished product's compliance separately. Cambridge China Bridge sources isolated gate-driver ICs.
Duty and classification for isolated gate drivers
Heading 8542 covers electronic integrated circuits. This guide concerns isolated gate-driver chips, rather than assembled driver boards. The table lists possible other-integrated-circuit categories and a separate parts line; these are alternatives to investigate, not interchangeable codes for every gate driver.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 October 2026, all supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.
Confirm the commodity code using the manufacturer's datasheet, internal construction and supplied form. Do not classify a complete packaged chip as a part merely because it will enter another product. See the integrated circuits and chips guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other integrated circuits, subject to gate-driver classification | 8542 39 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Other multi-component integrated circuits meeting the chapter note | 8542 39 11 00 | 0% | None |
| Other integrated circuits meeting the specified chapter note | 8542 39 19 00 | 0% | None |
| Integrated-circuit parts, rather than complete packaged gate drivers | 8542 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the isolation barrier and drive behaviour
State the manufacturer, full ordering suffix, package, pin assignment and approved datasheet revision. Specify isolation working voltage separately from the withstand-test rating, basic or reinforced isolation, creepage and clearance, and the evidence supporting the supplier's isolation claims.
Agree supply ranges, source and sink drive capability, propagation delay, channel matching, common-mode transient immunity and operating temperature grade. Identify required undervoltage lockout behaviour, fault reporting, desaturation protection and gate clamping. Approve substitutions against the actual power-stage design before shipment.
Ask for part-specific hazardous-substance declarations for the finished product's compliance assessment. Bare chips supplied to a business for incorporation into a finished product are components, rather than electrical and electronic equipment products under the WEEE guidance.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 512 isolated gate-driver chips on reels; illustrative whole-pound values under 8542 39 90 00, invoiced at £8,120 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,720. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,720, so it is £1,744. 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
Identity: match package markings, ordering suffix, reel labels and lot records to the approved manufacturer and purchase order; investigate mixed lots or signs of remarking.
Packing: check sealed moisture-barrier bags, desiccant, humidity indicators and packing dates against the maker's handling instructions; inspect leads and package surfaces.
Electrical behaviour: test samples for output drive, propagation delay, undervoltage lockout and the ordered protection functions at the agreed supply and temperature conditions.
Isolation evidence: match reports to the exact part and package; agree sample isolation testing with a competent laboratory and retain samples and results by lot.
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What goes wrong
A substitute may fit the board but change the lockout threshold, timing or fault response. A quoted withstand rating can also be mistaken for the permitted continuous working voltage. Check the complete ordering suffix and isolation evidence before approving a replacement.
Remarked or recycled stock, mixed lots and damaged dry packing undermine reliability and traceability. A basic switching test does not establish isolation performance or behaviour during rapid voltage transitions. Agree application-relevant acceptance tests before releasing the batch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on isolated gate-driver ICs from China?
The supplied heading 8542 lines carry 0% duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measures. Confirm the exact chip's commodity code; import VAT is separate.
Do bare isolated gate-driver chips need UKCA marking?
Confirm with the relevant authority whether UKCA marking applies to the supplied components. The finished product's applicable electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility and hazardous-substance requirements still need assessment.
Can I accept a pin-compatible gate-driver substitute?
Only after checking the full specification and testing it in the intended design. Compare isolation, drive behaviour, timing, lockout and protection functions, not just the pin assignment.
How do I check broker stock is genuine?
Request manufacturer-traceable reel labels and lot records. Compare markings and packaging, then use electrical tests and risk-based internal inspection against known genuine samples.