Sourcing machine-tool live centres from China
Machine-tool live centres from China carry 0% UK duty across the listed heading 8466 lines, with no recorded trade remedies. Suppliers must supply safe work equipment. Match the tailstock taper, tip geometry and rated operating conditions before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources machine-tool live centres.
Duty and classification for live centres
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8466 covers machine-tool parts and accessories, including work holders. Every supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. For lathe live centres, examine 8466 20 91 00 against the actual design and function.
The table includes adjacent classifications for support fixtures and separately supplied spares; these are not interchangeable codes for the same centre. The supplied facts attach a fluorinated greenhouse gas import control to 8466 93 40 00 and 8466 93 60 00. Official guidance concerns equipment pre-charged with hydrofluorocarbons. It does not resolve the declaration for an ordinary mechanical live centre; confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker if using either controlled line.
Confirm the commodity code using drawings, the machine application and whether the shipment contains complete centres or separate parts. Budget separately for 20% import VAT using UK import duty and VAT. For wider workholding context, see machine-tool steady rests.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other work holders for lathes, including live centres where classified here | 8466 20 91 00 | 0% | None |
| Other work holders for machines other than lathes | 8466 20 98 00 | 0% | None |
| Application-specific jigs and fixtures for centre-support assemblies | 8466 20 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Other metalworking machine parts, potentially including centre assembly spares | 8466 93 60 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the taper, tip and bearing duty
Send the factory the tailstock interface drawing, taper designation, shank length and extraction arrangement. Specify the tip profile and angle, usable projection and clearance around the workpiece. Identify whether you need a general-purpose point, an extended point or a centre for hollow workpieces.
Agree permissible tip runout, radial and axial load, operating speed and duty cycle together. Ask for bearing arrangement, lubrication instructions, seal details and replaceable-tip retention where applicable. Suppliers must supply safe work equipment. Have your machine builder or safety adviser review compatibility where an accessory changes workholding or guarding.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 500 lathe live centres for a workshop supplier under 8466 20 91 00, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,900, so it is £4,980. 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
Taper and seating: check dimensions and contact against the agreed gauge or machine interface; inspect for burrs, grinding damage and incomplete seating.
Tip accuracy: measure runout with the shank correctly seated, recording the measurement position and method; compare results with the agreed drawing.
Bearings and retention: check rotation for roughness and play, verify replaceable-tip retention, and run an agreed trial at the intended load and speed while observing noise and heating.
Arrival condition: inspect tips, seals and shanks for transit damage and corrosion; reconcile model identification, inspection records and lubrication instructions with the delivered batch.
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What goes wrong
A taper can appear to fit while seating on the wrong surface or leaving insufficient extraction clearance. Tip runout can produce eccentric work, while an extended point can reduce usable load capacity. Agree the complete interface and operating envelope rather than accepting a catalogue description.
Bearing roughness, excessive play, poor sealing and unsuitable lubrication can cause noise, heating or loss of accuracy. A hand-spin check alone cannot demonstrate performance under machining loads. Compare the sample and delivered batch using the same agreed inspection method; arrange quality inspection before dispatch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on live centres from China?
The supplied heading 8466 lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the code for the actual centre or separately supplied spare.
Which commodity code should I use for a lathe live centre?
Examine 8466 20 91 00 for other work holders for lathes. Confirm classification from the design and function; separate fixtures and spare parts may need different codes.
How do I check live-centre runout?
Seat the shank correctly in the agreed interface, measure tip runout with an indicator at the agreed position, and record the setup. Compare the result with the purchase drawing.
What should I ask the Chinese factory before ordering?
Ask for the taper drawing, tip geometry, load and speed ratings, bearing arrangement, lubrication instructions and inspection method. Approve a sample under representative operating conditions.