Sourcing O1 tool steel bars from China
O1 tool steel bars from China fall within heading 7228, with listed duties from 0% to 50% depending on processing. Cold-finished tool steel bars carry 50% outside quota. Confirm the condition and commodity code; the attached hot-rolled anti-dumping measure concerns rebar. Cambridge China Bridge sources O1 tool steel bars.
Duty depends on how the O1 bars are processed
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7228 covers other alloy steel bars and rods, sections and hollow drill bars. This guide focuses on O1 tool steel bars. The relevant tool-steel lines distinguish hot-rolled, forged, cold-formed or cold-finished, and other processing. The grade name alone does not establish the commodity code.
The supplied facts list 0% for hot-rolled, forged and other tool steel bars, and 50% for cold-formed or cold-finished tool steel bars. The reference guide explains that the latter has a 0% quota route. Unused quota volumes may accumulate across quarters within the same quota year. The hot-rolled line lists residual anti-dumping duty of 22.50%; the reference limits this to high-fatigue-performance rebar, with additional code 8W01 for other bars. These selected lines list no countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.
Confirm the commodity code using the mill certificate and processing description, and ask your broker to check quota availability and the rebar exemption declaration. Ask HMRC or your customs broker to confirm whether these steel lines fall within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and when any obligations apply. The mechanism taxes embodied emissions in covered imports. Ask the mill for emissions data and consult the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool steel bars, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded | 7228 30 20 00 | 0% | 22.50% residual anti-dumping |
| Tool steel bars, not further worked than forged | 7228 40 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Tool steel bars, not further worked than cold-formed or cold-finished | 7228 50 20 00 | 50% | None |
| Other tool steel bars, other processing | 7228 60 20 90 | 0% | None |
Specify O1 grade, annealing and machining stock
Specify O1 chemistry against your agreed material specification, rather than accepting an unnamed equivalent. State whether you want annealed machining stock or another heat-treatment condition. Agree delivery hardness, round or flat section, dimensions, straightness, surface finish and machining allowance. For oil-hardening work, agree a trial heat-treatment assessment with your heat treater before accepting production material.
Request a heat-specific inspection certificate covering chemistry, condition and test results. Agree how heat identity will remain traceable when bars are cut. For ground bars, define the finished tolerance and how much material remains available for machining. See the D2 tool steel guide for wider heading context.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 6 tonnes of forged O1 tool steel bars, not further worked; illustrative order under 7228 40 10 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,000, so it is £4,000. 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
Identity: match bar and bundle heat markings to the inspection certificate; separate mixed heats.
Material: independently check chemistry and delivery hardness against the agreed O1 specification.
Geometry: measure section size, straightness and machining allowance; check ground surfaces and cut ends.
Surface and response: inspect rust, cracks and decarburisation; assess sample hardening response against the agreed trial.
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What goes wrong
A supplier's equivalent grade may arrive without evidence that it meets the agreed O1 chemistry. Inconsistent annealing can make machining uneven, while decarburised surfaces can leave soft areas after hardening. Bent bars or insufficient grinding allowance can prevent the finished tool meeting its drawing. Hold affected heats apart while investigating.
A cold-finished shipment costed as hot-rolled stock can face a different duty. Quota availability and the hot-rolled rebar exemption also need checking before shipment. Keep the invoice, processing description and mill certificate consistent, and agree acceptance tests before paying for production.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on O1 tool steel bars from China?
The selected tool-steel lines list 0% for hot-rolled, forged and other bars, and 50% for cold-formed or cold-finished bars. The reference guide gives a 0% quota route for the latter.
Does anti-dumping duty apply to O1 tool steel bars?
The hot-rolled line lists 22.50%, but the reference limits the measure to high-fatigue-performance rebar. Other bars use additional code 8W01. Ask your broker to confirm the declaration.
What certificate should I request for O1 bars?
Request a heat-specific mill inspection certificate giving chemistry, heat-treatment condition and test results. Match its heat number to the bars and independently check chemistry and hardness.
Should I buy annealed or hardened O1 bars?
Specify the condition your machining and heat-treatment process needs. For annealed stock, agree delivery hardness and machining allowance, then assess a sample through your intended hardening process.