Sourcing metal clipboard clips from China

Duty and classification for metal clipboard clips

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8305 covers base-metal binder fittings, letter clips, paper clips and similar office articles, plus staples in strips. For loose metal clipboard clips, consider 8305 90 00 00, described as other, including parts.

The supplied record shows 2% duty for goods from China throughout the heading, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control recorded. The table repeats the relevant code for clip variants; these are not separate tariff lines.

Send photographs, a drawing and details of how the clip mounts and operates to your customs broker to confirm the commodity code. This guide concerns loose clips. For the wider heading, see metal binder clips.

Specify the clip against the intended board

Specify clip width, base length, mounting-hole spacing, hole diameter, board thickness and fixing method. State whether rivets or screws are supplied and whether the clip includes a hanging loop. Approve a sample fitted to the intended board, with the fixing ends checked on its reverse.

Agree steel grade, metal thickness, spring grip, opening effort, jaw contact area and finish. Test the intended paper stack for slipping and marking. Specify any protective pads and how they attach. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005; assess sharp edges and finger-trapping risks in the fitted assembly.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 metal clipboard clips; illustrative order, with illustrative FOB and freight values under 8305 90 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,100. Duty at 2% is £62. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,162, so it is £632.40. Import taxes total £694.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £62 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure mounting holes and base dimensions against the drawing; fit sampled clips to the intended board and check for rocking, loose fixings or protruding ends.

Grip: open and close sampled clips repeatedly; compare opening effort with the approved sample and check that the intended paper stack stays held without tearing.

Finish: inspect stamped edges, spring ends and fixing holes for burrs; check plating coverage, rust, flaking and pad adhesion.

Packing: check model identification, supplied fixings and carton contents; protect clips from scratching and distortion. Arrange a quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A clip can look correct but have mounting holes that miss the board tooling or fixings that are unsuitable for its thickness. Uneven jaws hold paper at one end only. Weak springs allow sheets to slip, while excessive opening effort makes the clip awkward to use.

Poor deburring leaves sharp edges around punched holes. Thin or damaged plating can rust during damp storage, and poorly attached pads can detach. Keep an approved fitted sample and compare production clips against it, including the reverse of the board.

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.