Sourcing mechanical rail timers from China
Mechanical DIN-rail time switches with a clock movement or synchronous motor carry 4% UK duty from China, with no recorded trade remedies. For mains models, confirm with the relevant authority the electrical safety conformity, marking and declaration of conformity requirements before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources mechanical DIN-rail time switches.
UK duty on mechanical DIN-rail time switches
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 9107 covers time switches with a clock or watch movement or synchronous motor. The supplied line, 9107 00 00 90, carries 4% duty on goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions are recorded. The table shows product variants sharing this commodity code.
The tariff attaches a cultural-object export licence entry. Official guidance says there are no licensing requirements for importing objects of cultural interest into Great Britain. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the listed entry and any document waiver apply to your shipment.
Confirm the timing mechanism before choosing the commodity code. A dial alone does not establish classification. For other formats, see the wider timer switches guide. Use the import duty and VAT guide when calculating landed cost.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical DIN-rail time switches with daily programming | 9107 00 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify the dial, contacts and rail mounting
Specify daily or weekly programming, the shortest switching interval, supply voltage and frequency, dial direction, contact arrangement and manual override positions. Agree whether the clock continues during a power interruption and how it restarts. State the rail profile, enclosure width, terminal layout and clearance needed inside the intended distribution board.
State the actual load: heating, lamps, motors or a contactor coil. Ask for separate ratings for the intended load rather than accepting a headline resistive rating. Approve a wiring diagram, terminal markings and a sample fitted to your intended rail and enclosure.
For mains models supplied in Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority whether the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 apply and what electrical safety evidence, CE or UKCA marking, declaration of conformity and importer identification are required. Instructions must be in easily understandable English. Confirm whether hazardous-substance restrictions apply and obtain supporting evidence where they do. Check waste electrical equipment producer responsibilities, including annual registration where you are a producer.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5,000 mechanical DIN-rail time switches under 9107 00 00 90, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £41,800. Duty at 4% is £1,672. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £43,472, so it is £8,694.40. Import taxes total £10,366.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,672 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Programming: move the dial segments through their settings, run programmed switching cycles, compare timekeeping with a reference clock and check every manual override position.
Contacts: test switching with the agreed load, inspect for overheating or sticking and confirm that terminal markings match the wiring diagram.
Mounting: fit samples to the intended rail, check the retaining clip and enclosure clearance, tighten terminals as instructed and inspect for cracked mouldings.
Documents: match the model, supply rating and contact ratings across the product, declaration, test reports and English instructions. Use the quality inspection guide to agree the inspection scope.
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What goes wrong
A resistive-load rating can be mistaken for a motor or lamp rating. Contacts may overheat or stick with the intended load. Dial segments can break, the clock can drift and an override can leave the circuit permanently energised. Loose rail clips and confusing terminal diagrams create installation problems.
Approve a sample under the intended load and test its restart behaviour after a supply interruption. Agree which dial setting means on, how the override returns to automatic operation and how any running reserve is checked. Match the production shipment to the approved sample and its documentation.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on mechanical DIN-rail time switches from China?
The supplied tariff line 9107 00 00 90 carries 4% duty on goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.
Can I use the marked current rating for a motor?
Ask for the motor-load rating and test with the intended motor or contactor arrangement. A resistive-load rating alone does not establish suitability.
Do mechanical DIN-rail timers need CE or UKCA marking?
For mains models, confirm with the relevant authority the electrical safety conformity requirements and whether CE or UKCA marking with a declaration of conformity is appropriate for sale in Great Britain; check that the documents cover your exact model.
Will the timer keep its setting during a power cut?
Specify whether running reserve is required. Test whether the dial continues to advance during an interruption and whether switching resumes at the correct time when power returns.