Sourcing plating anode baskets from China

0% duty for articles of nickel

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7508 covers other articles of nickel. Nickel wire cloth, grill and netting fall under 7508 10 00 00; other nickel articles fall under 7508 90 00 00. Both supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows product forms sharing these codes, rather than separate tariff lines.

The other-articles line attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For waste from China entering England under notification controls, the exporter applies to the dispatch country's competent authority; shipment must await consent from the Environment Agency and the other authorities involved. Ask your customs broker to confirm the controls for your shipment.

Obtain the basket material certificate and drawing before confirming the commodity code. Do not select heading 7508 simply because the basket holds nickel anodes. For the wider heading, see our nickel foam guide.

Specify the basket, mesh and electrical connection

Describe the basket body material separately from the nickel anode charge. Specify bath chemistry, operating temperature, basket shape, overall dimensions, usable depth, mesh opening and wire or sheet thickness. Give the supplier your tank clearance and anode bar drawing rather than relying on a catalogue photograph.

Agree hanger geometry, contact surfaces, weld construction, bottom closure and any removable lid. State the intended filled load and ask for a loaded fit check. If an anode bag is included, agree its fit, fastening and compatibility with your process separately.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of nickel-made electroplating anode baskets under 7508 90 00 00, invoiced at £1,200 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,100, so it is £420. 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

Material: compare the basket's material certificate with its batch identification and check composition on sampled finished baskets.

Mesh and dimensions: measure openings, overall size and usable depth; check that the intended anode charge is retained.

Welds and edges: inspect seams, hanger joints and bottom closure for cracks, loose wires, sharp edges and trapped debris.

Fit and packing: trial the hanger on the intended bar, check clearance with the bag fitted, and inspect for transport distortion. Use our quality inspection guide to organise acceptance checks.

What goes wrong

A supplier describes the nickel plating application but leaves the basket material unspecified. The buyer then compares quotations for different constructions or assumes the anode material also describes the basket. Require a material declaration for the finished basket before approving the sample or customs description.

Oversized mesh can release small pieces of anode charge; weak hanger joints and distorted bodies can prevent a secure fit. Sharp weld edges can damage the bag. Compare the production shipment with the approved drawing and perform the agreed loaded fit check before putting baskets into service.

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.