Sourcing pewter figurines from China

UK duty on pewter figurines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 8007 covers other articles of tin. Pewter display figurines entered under 8007 00 80 00 carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. The table shows figurine types sharing this commodity line.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. In England, material is waste if its holder has discarded it. For waste from China subject to notification controls, consent from the dispatch, transit and destination authorities is needed before shipment. Ask your customs broker to confirm the control requirements for your consignment and distinguish finished figurines from discarded material.

Confirm the alloy, construction and intended use before choosing the commodity code. For other products within the heading, see the pewter and tin articles guide.

Specify the alloy, sculpt and display base

Specify the alloy composition and declared lead content, finished dimensions and weight, pose, facial detail, surface finish and base construction. Identify separate cast parts and their attachment method. Approve a physical sample showing the casting seams, engraving and colour of any antique finish. Confirm whether the figurine is solid pewter or another metal with a pewter-coloured finish.

Consumer figurines supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Record the intended use and assess pointed details, loose attachments and stability. If the design is intended for play by children under 14, arrange a toy-safety assessment before ordering. Keep the alloy evidence and assessment tied to the approved design.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,500 pewter souvenir figurines under 8007 00 80 00, invoiced at £27,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £27,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,900, so it is £5,580. 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

Composition: match the batch certificate to the agreed alloy and declared lead content; arrange laboratory checks where the material claim needs verification.

Casting: check faces, fingers and other fine details for incomplete filling, pits, porosity, sharp seams and bent projections; compare with the approved sample.

Assembly and finish: check attached parts, base stability, engraving and finish consistency; look for rocking, visible adhesive and excessive polishing that removes detail.

Packing: check individual wrapping and shaped supports protect projecting parts and prevent rubbing; open arrival cartons to look for dents, bent details and loose bases.

What goes wrong

Common rejection points include blurred sculpt detail, visible mould seams, uneven antique colouring and loose bases. Soft pewter can arrive dented, while projecting details can bend when the carton insert leaves them unsupported. Write these rejection points into the sample approval and packing brief.

A supplier's description of the finish does not establish the alloy. Match certificates to the production batch and compare arrival samples with the approved figurine. Use the quality inspection guide to organise checks before dispatch.

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.