Sourcing metal desktop card holders from China

Duty and classification for desktop card holders

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 8304 covers base-metal office or desk equipment, including card-index cabinets and similar articles, excluding office furniture. This guide concerns metal holders that present business cards on a desk. For the wider product family, see metal desk accessories.

The supplied line 8304 00 00 00 carries 2% duty for goods from China. It records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The table repeats this code for card-holder designs, rather than showing separate tariff lines.

Confirm the commodity code using photographs, material details, dimensions and intended use. Describe plastic inserts, wooden bases and any other components fully. A mixed-material article needs its own classification assessment.

Specify the card pocket and base

Send the factory the actual cards you intend to display. Specify internal pocket width, usable depth, front-lip height and back angle. Check that cards stand visibly, can be removed without catching and remain supported as the pocket empties. For separate pockets, agree spacing and access to the rear cards.

State metal grade, sheet thickness or mesh construction, finish, colour, logo position and protective feet. Approve a finished sample on the intended desk surface, both filled and nearly empty. For consumer sales, products should only be sold after compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 folded sheet-metal desktop card holders; illustrative order, FOB and freight values under 8304 00 00 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 2% is £152. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,752, so it is £1,550.40. Import taxes total £1,702.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £152 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Card fit: insert the intended cards into sampled holders; check clearance, visible print area and removal without bending or snagging.

Edges and joints: check folded lips, cut mesh ends, corners and welds for burrs, cracks or loose joints; use a suitable inspection method that avoids cuts.

Base and finish: check rocking, tipping, foot adhesion, coating chips and plating defects against the approved sample.

Packing: check that dividers prevent metal surfaces rubbing together and that bases arrive without distortion. Record arrival defects and compare them with the inspection report.

What goes wrong

External dimensions can match the drawing while the usable pocket is too narrow after folding or coating. A high front lip hides contact details, and a shallow pocket lets cards fall forward. Approve the sample with the actual cards and record the usable dimensions.

Thin bases can distort in packing, missing feet let holders slide or scratch desks, and nested holders can arrive with damaged finishes. Agree edge finishing, base flatness and protective separators before production. Check incoming holders against the approved sample before releasing stock.

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.