Sourcing mounted laser mirrors from China

Zero duty on mounted laser mirrors

Heading 9002 covers mounted, optically worked mirrors and other optical elements used as parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus. Mounted laser mirrors fit the other mounted optical elements line, 9002 90 00 00. The table shows mirror variants sharing this tariff line, rather than separate commodity lines.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the supplied record lists 0% duty for goods from China under this line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.

Confirm the assembly supplied against the drawing and find your commodity code. Unmounted optical elements belong to heading 9001. For the wider mounted-optics context, see mounted beam splitters.

Specify the mirror and its mount together

Specify substrate, flat or curved surface, clear aperture, surface quality, flatness or curvature, coating and coated face. State the operating wavelength range, angle of incidence, polarisation and required reflectance. For laser damage performance, agree the test conditions, including pulse duration or continuous operation, beam size and exposure, rather than accepting an unexplained rating.

Define mount material, fixing interface, adjustment travel, locking arrangement and permitted movement after locking. Ask for coating measurements traceable to the supplied batch and test the assembled mirror, since clamping can distort the optical surface.

For sales in Great Britain, check product-specific legislation for the mirror assembly. Government guidance says components sold separately can be finished products in their own right; component status alone does not settle conformity assessment. Use testing and certification support to define the scope before ordering.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 50 mounted laser mirrors under 9002 90 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Coating: compare measured reflectance with the agreed wavelength, incidence angle and polarisation; inspect for scratches, pinholes and coating damage.

Optical surface: verify flatness or curvature on the mounted assembly against the drawing, including after the agreed locking procedure.

Mount: check fixing dimensions, adjustment smoothness, backlash and beam-position stability after locking on the intended fixture.

Packing: check batch identification, individual protection and clearance between packaging and the coated face; record contamination or loose retaining parts on arrival.

What goes wrong

A coating measured at a different wavelength or incidence angle may miss the required reflectance. Excessive retaining pressure can distort the surface, while backlash or movement during locking changes beam alignment. Packing that touches the coating can leave marks or particles. Agree acceptance methods on the assembled sample and repeat them on production goods.

Plan powered acceptance tests with the employer's laser risk assessment in mind. HSE says whether protective eyewear is needed depends on that assessment. Agree a controlled test arrangement before testing mirrors in an exposed beam.

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.