Sourcing MV vacuum contactors from China
Medium-voltage vacuum contactors from China carry ordinary UK duty of 2% under the relevant heading 8535 lines. For equipment above 1,000 V AC, confirm the scope of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 with the relevant authority; check the supplied assembly and applicable safety rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources medium-voltage vacuum contactors.
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Ordinary duty: 2%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8535 covers switching, protection and connection apparatus for voltages exceeding 1,000 V. Every supplied line carries ordinary duty of 2% for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. For a vacuum contactor, confirm whether its switching function falls within the make-and-break switch line or other apparatus line.
The other-apparatus line records 0% suspensions for a defined semiconductor switch module and authorised offshore wind cable manufacture. These descriptions do not establish relief for an ordinary vacuum contactor. The tariff attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import control to the switch and other-apparatus lines, and mercury export control to every supplied line. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable import-control requirement and assess the export entry separately if re-exporting.
Use the main-circuit rating, operating function and supplied configuration to confirm the commodity code. The table includes classification candidates and separately imported protective fuses and breakers, rather than treating every row as a contactor code. Complete panels need a separate classification review. See the vacuum circuit breaker guide for related heading coverage.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make-and-break switches below 72.5 kV; check contactor classification | 8535 30 10 90 | 2% | None |
| Other switching apparatus; check applicability to the contactor design | 8535 90 00 89 | 2% | None |
| Separately imported high-voltage fuses for contactor protection | 8535 10 00 90 | 2% | None |
| Separately imported automatic circuit breakers below 72.5 kV | 8535 21 00 90 | 2% | None |
Specify the contactor and its protection
State the main-circuit voltage, continuous current, load type and switching duty. Specify coil supply, holding arrangement, auxiliary contacts, mounting dimensions and terminal positions. For a fused starter, agree the fuse selection and protection coordination with the buyer's engineer. Ask for type-test evidence covering the supplied contactor design and ratings, plus maintenance instructions and replacement interrupter details.
For equipment above 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC, confirm the scope of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 with the relevant authority. Review separately supplied control equipment against its own ratings. Workplace safety law applies where more specific product safety law does not apply. The Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 cover equipment liable to generate electromagnetic disturbance, subject to exceptions; assess any supplied electronic controller against that scope.
Confirm the insulation medium throughout the supplied assembly. Vacuum interruption alone does not describe the enclosure's insulation. Imported products containing regulated fluorinated gas must be labelled. Request a written gas declaration and have the broker resolve the tariff control against the actual goods. Agree the evidence review through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 40 medium-voltage vacuum contactors, assuming this classification is confirmed under 8535 30 10 90, invoiced at £120,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £124,000. Duty at 2% is £2,480. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £126,480, so it is £25,296. Import taxes total £27,776; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,480 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match nameplates, serial records, interrupter model and coil designation to the approved drawings and test reports.
Mechanism: have qualified personnel check closing, release, latching where fitted, auxiliary contact sequence and interlocks against the agreed procedure.
Electrical evidence: match routine insulation, contact resistance and vacuum-integrity test records to the supplied units; agree any repeat tests with the buyer's engineer.
Arrival condition: inspect insulating parts for cracks, terminals for movement, mechanisms for transit damage and packaging for moisture before installation.
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What goes wrong
A coil with the wrong supply can fail to pull in, chatter or overheat. A replacement interrupter can fit mechanically while differing from the tested design. Poor contact adjustment, damaged insulation and lost vacuum can make an apparently intact contactor unsuitable for service. Match the bulk units to the agreed design before shipment.
A contactor's load-switching evidence does not establish the fault-clearing performance of the complete starter. Confirm the protective arrangement and its coordination before accepting the order. Reports for another rating, unexplained component substitutions and missing maintenance information should be resolved before installation.
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 vacuum contactors from China?
The supplied heading 8535 lines carry ordinary duty of 2%, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing measure. Confirm the contactor's commodity code; specific suspensions do not establish general contactor relief.
Does a medium-voltage vacuum contactor need UKCA marking?
Assess the supplied configuration and other applicable rules before deciding its marking route.
Does vacuum switching avoid fluorinated gas controls?
Check the complete assembly's insulation medium. Imported products containing regulated fluorinated gas must be labelled. Ask the broker to confirm the tariff control for the actual goods.
What should I ask a Chinese contactor factory to provide?
Request drawings, load and coil ratings, exact-design type-test reports, unit-linked routine test records, protection coordination information, maintenance instructions and a written insulation-medium declaration.