Sourcing overrunning clutches from China
The supplied UK tariff lines for overrunning clutches carry 0% duty from China; separately supplied shafts can carry 4%. Products must meet applicable UK product safety law. Confirm the clutch's construction and intended use before choosing its code. Cambridge China Bridge sources overrunning clutches.
Duty on clutches and associated components
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8483 covers transmission components including clutches and shaft couplings. The supplied starter-motor overrunning-clutch line carries 0% duty from China. Its description requires a total length of 49,4 mm or more but not more than 210 mm, and a starter motor pinion with 9 or more but not more than 16 teeth. For belt drives, see our timing belt pulley sourcing guide.
The listed cast iron or cast steel clutch line and cast transmission-parts line also carry 0%; the associated separately supplied shaft line carries 4%. These selected lines have no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control. The table includes associated components, not interchangeable classifications for a complete clutch.
Confirm the commodity code using drawings, material, construction and intended application. Do not apply the starter-motor line to every industrial freewheel. The supplied data does not establish a general code for every other design. See the industrial friction clutches guide for wider clutch sourcing.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter-motor overrunning clutches meeting the tariff description | 8483 60 80 20 | 0% | None |
| Other cast iron or cast steel clutches and shaft couplings | 8483 60 20 90 | 0% | None |
| Other cast iron or cast steel transmission parts | 8483 90 81 90 | 0% | None |
| Other transmission shafts, supplied separately | 8483 10 95 90 | 4% | None |
Specify locking direction and overrunning duty
State whether the clutch is for overrunning, indexing or backstopping, and identify the driving race. Define locking direction from a named viewing end. Specify transmitted torque, peak loading, overrunning speed of each race, engagement frequency, operating temperature and lubrication. Ask the factory to explain whether its rating covers your actual duty cycle.
Provide drawings for the bore, shaft fit, keyway or spline, mounting flange and axial retention. For starter drives, include pinion geometry and the mating starter details. Agree race material, heat treatment, surface finish and whether separate bearings support the assembly. Keep an approved sample and record permitted component substitutions.
Products placed on the UK market must comply with applicable UK product safety legislation. Ask a compliance adviser to assess the exact supplied assembly and intended use, especially a backstop intended to prevent hazardous reverse movement. Resolve that assessment before agreeing markings or documentation with the factory.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 starter-motor overrunning clutches meeting the tariff description, illustrative only under 8483 60 80 20, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,000, so it is £5,200. 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
Direction: verify engagement and free rotation against the drawing, using the stated viewing end; compare direction markings and part identification with the approved sample.
Fit: measure bore, shaft interface, keyway or spline, mounting faces and axial clearance; trial-fit samples to the intended mating parts.
Performance: test locking under the agreed load and overrunning at the agreed speed; record slipping, drag, noise and temperature against the acceptance limits.
Condition: inspect race surfaces, seals, lubricant, corrosion protection and packing on arrival; match material and heat-treatment records to the batch. Plan checks through the inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A clutch can fit yet lock in the wrong direction because the supplier and buyer viewed it from opposite ends. Other failures include slipping under shock loads, excessive drag while overrunning, unsuitable lubricant and damaged race surfaces. A hand-turning check cannot establish load capacity.
A catalogue torque figure may describe a different operating mode from your application. Agree the test conditions and acceptance limits before production, then repeat functional checks on received samples. Keep suspect batches separate while the factory investigates, rather than fitting them into equipment.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on overrunning clutches from China?
The supplied starter-motor overrunning-clutch line and cast iron or cast steel clutch line carry 0%. Separately supplied transmission shafts can carry 4%. Confirm the code for your exact product.
Can every overrunning clutch use the starter-motor commodity code?
No. The supplied line describes passenger-car and commercial-vehicle starter-motor clutches with specified length and pinion tooth limits. Check the full description against your product.
How do I specify an overrunning clutch's direction?
Name the driving race and viewing end, then show the locking and free-running directions on the drawing. Check the sample in that orientation.
What should I test before accepting overrunning clutches?
Check fit, locking direction, load holding and overrunning behaviour. Use agreed load and speed conditions, and record slipping, drag, noise and temperature.