Sourcing metal letter corner clips from China

Duty and classification for letter corner clips

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8305 covers base-metal binder fittings, letter clips, letter corners, paper clips, indexing tags and similar office articles, plus staples in strips. Metal clips that slip over document corners fall within the other office articles line, 8305 90 00 00.

The supplied tariff record shows 2% duty for goods from China under this line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control recorded. The table repeats this code for different materials and finishes; these are product variants within the same tariff line.

Send photographs, a drawing and an explanation of how the clip holds paper to your customs broker to confirm the commodity code. For other products within this heading, see our ring binder mechanisms guide.

Specify the fold and paper grip

Specify the base metal, sheet thickness, corner shape, overall dimensions, insertion depth and folded opening. Send samples of the paper and document stack the clip will hold. Agree how firmly it should grip, whether it must slide off for reuse, and how much marking of the paper is acceptable.

Define the finish, colour, embossing and acceptable surface marks. Approve a sample fitted to the intended documents rather than judging appearance alone. Clips supplied for consumer use in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005; assess exposed edges and points accordingly.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 38,000 metal letter corner clips; illustrative order, FOB value and freight 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: compare dimensions, fold opening and insertion depth with the approved sample; try clips on the intended paper stack.

Grip: check that clips hold during normal handling, release as agreed and do not crease, tear or stain the paper.

Edges and finish: inspect cut edges, folded seams and points for burrs; check plating coverage, scratches, flaking and corrosion.

Packing: check counts, finish identification and protection against rubbing or crushing; compare arrival samples with the approved sample. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A clip can look correct yet have a folded opening that is too tight or too loose. Tight folds can cut or crease paper; loose folds let documents slip out. Uneven folds leave projecting points, while rough stamping edges can snag paper and fingers.

Finish problems include bare areas inside the fold, coating flakes and corrosion that transfers to documents. Keep the approved sample and record the paper stack used for approval. Compare production and arrival samples against both, including after repeated fitting and removal.

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.