Sourcing nickel-silver foil from China

0% duty on nickel-silver foil

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7410 covers copper foil, including copper-alloy foil, with metal thickness not exceeding 0.15 mm, excluding any backing. Nickel-silver foil belongs to the copper-alloy buying family. Thicker material falls outside this foil heading. See the brass foil guide for the wider heading.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for Chinese goods under both 7410 12 00 00, unbacked copper-alloy foil, and 7410 22 00 00, backed copper-alloy foil. Neither line lists anti-dumping or countervailing duty, a suspension or an attached import control. The table shows buying forms sharing these codes, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Confirm the alloy, metal thickness and backing with your customs broker before shipment. Give them the material certificate and backing specification, rather than relying on the supplier's description alone. Our commodity code guide explains the classification process.

Specify composition, temper and slit edges

Describe nickel-silver foil as a copper-nickel-zinc alloy and agree the alloy designation and composition with the mill. Specify temper, thickness tolerance, width, roll length or net weight, core dimensions, edge burr acceptance and surface finish. For backed foil, identify the backing and adhesive and agree a peel test. Approve a sample through your actual stamping, folding or bonding process.

UK REACH generally applies to individual substances on their own, in mixtures or in articles. Ask a compliance adviser to assess the foil, coatings and backing against the intended use. Nickel contact can cause sensitisation and contact dermatitis, so include finished-part testing in the purchasing brief where skin contact is intended.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 kg of unbacked nickel-silver foil for a trial production order; illustrative values under 7410 12 00 00, invoiced at £2,200 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,800, so it is £560. 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: match each roll's batch identity to its mill certificate; check alloy composition and temper, with independent composition and hardness testing for critical applications.

Dimensions: measure metal thickness across the width and along sampled lengths; check slit width, camber and edge burrs against the agreed drawing.

Surface and backing: inspect for pinholes, scratches, wrinkles and tarnish; check backed material for lifting, trapped contamination and agreed peel performance.

Packing: check supported cores, protected roll edges, sealed moisture-resistant wrapping and batch labels. Use the inspection guide to set the acceptance brief.

What goes wrong

A matching silver-coloured surface does not establish the ordered alloy or temper. Substitution, uneven thickness and excessive slit burrs can cause poor fit or cracking during forming. Creased rolls and surface residue can disrupt feeding or bonding. Compare incoming material with the approved sample and retain a labelled sample from each batch.

Backed foil can arrive with lifting edges or inconsistent adhesion. Agree the test method and acceptance criteria before production, and inspect the packing before dispatch. Check the mill's rolling, slitting and test capability through factory verification.

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.