Sourcing PCB spring contacts from China
PCB spring contacts from China have candidate UK tariff lines carrying 0% or 2% duty, depending on their connecting function. Business-to-business components are outside the hazardous-substance rules themselves, but the final assembly must comply where those rules apply. Cambridge China Bridge sources PCB spring contacts.
Duty depends on the connecting function
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 October 2026, heading 8536 covers electrical switching, protection and connection apparatus for voltages not exceeding 1 000 V. The table shows candidate lines for spring contacts and their connector assemblies, rather than interchangeable codes. A printed-circuit plug or socket differs from a wire contact or another connecting device.
The selected Chinese-origin lines carry 0% or 2%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The general plugs and sockets line has a suspension restricted to named products; do not assume it covers an ordinary spring contact. These lines attach an export control of mercury, rather than an import control. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the supplied material.
Confirm the commodity code using the drawing, connecting function and supplied assembly. For the rest of the heading, see circuit breakers, switches and connectors.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plugs and sockets for printed circuits | 8536 69 30 00 | 0% | None |
| Connections and contact elements for wire and cables | 8536 90 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other electrical connecting apparatus | 8536 90 95 00 | 0% | None |
| Other plugs and sockets | 8536 69 90 99 | 2% | None |
Specify working height and contact force
Describe whether the contact is a stamped spring finger, a spring-loaded pin or a housed connector. Specify the board footprint, free height, working height, permitted compression, contact force at working height, mating surface and mounting method. Include current rating, contact resistance and the intended operating environment.
Name the base alloy, plating stack and thickness, soldering process, durability test and packing orientation. Approve samples in the actual board and enclosure, because a contact that works loose on the bench may bottom out or lose pressure after assembly.
For Great Britain, official guidance says business-to-business component parts are outside the hazardous-substance regulations themselves, but an in-scope final assembly must comply. Obtain material and plating evidence for the assembly maker. For connectors designed for the mains-voltage range, check the electrical safety requirements described in the wider heading guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5,000 PCB spring contacts under 8536 90 95 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,600, so it is £2,520. 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
Geometry: measure the footprint, free height and working compression against the drawing; fit samples into the actual mating assembly.
Spring action: measure force at the agreed working height, check return after compression and repeat the agreed durability test.
Electrical and finish: check contact resistance under compression, plating evidence, surface damage and solderability after the intended soldering process.
Packing: check reel or tray orientation, bent contacts and batch identification. Use the approved sample alongside the inspection brief.
What goes wrong
A visually similar contact can have a different spring force or working travel. Too little pressure can cause intermittent connection; too much compression can permanently deform the spring or load the board. Test the assembled tolerance range before accepting a substitute.
Changed alloy, thinner plating, contaminated contact surfaces and poor solder wetting can undermine an approved sample. Keep the drawing revision, material evidence and batch test records together, and investigate failures before releasing the batch to assembly.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on PCB spring contacts from China?
The selected candidate lines carry 0% or 2%. Printed-circuit plugs and sockets and other connecting apparatus carry 0%; general other plugs and sockets carry 2%, subject to narrowly defined suspensions.
Which commodity code covers PCB spring contacts?
Confirm the connecting function and supplied form. Printed-circuit plugs and sockets may fit 8536 69 30 00; other connecting apparatus may fit 8536 90 95 00. A board mounting alone does not settle the code.
Do component spring contacts need hazardous-substance evidence?
Business-to-business components are outside those regulations themselves, but an in-scope final assembly must comply. Supply material and plating evidence so the assembly maker can assess compliance.
How do I check spring contacts before assembly?
Check dimensions, force at working height, return after compression, contact resistance, plating and solderability. Fit samples into the actual board and enclosure, and check packing for bent contacts.