Sourcing precious metal articles from China

0% or 2% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 7115 covers other articles of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal. Catalysts of platinum in the form of wire cloth or grill carried 0%, and other articles 2%, on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Both lines carry a waste import control, answered by a not-waste declaration.

The other articles line also carries a restriction under the Russia sanctions regulations, so the declaration must show that the goods are not subject to sanctions, for example that the metal is not of Russian origin. Jewellery is heading 7113 and tableware heading 7114; see our jewellery guide and silver guide.

Hallmarking and specification

Under the Hallmarking Act 1973, an article of gold, silver, platinum or palladium described as such and sold in the UK must carry a legally recognised hallmark at or above the exemption weights: gold 1 gram, silver 7.78 grams, platinum 0.5 grams and palladium 1 gram, unless another exemption applies. A UK hallmark or recognised Common Control Mark is acceptable. Chinese factory marks are not recognised, so plan for assay at a UK assay office before sale if the article does not already bear a legally recognised hallmark. Industrial items such as catalyst gauze and crucibles are sold to businesses by weight and assay, and Schedule 1 of the Act exempts articles used or intended for medical, dental, veterinary, scientific or industrial purposes. Trophies and decorative items are not exempt merely because they are trophies or decorative items.

Specify alloy and fineness, weight per piece, dimensions, finish, and for catalyst gauze the wire diameter, mesh and alloy (for example platinum-rhodium). Ask for an assay certificate per lot and agree how metal weight is invoiced.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 50 silver-clad trophy cups under 7115 90 00 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Assay: check fineness by independent assay on samples.

Weight: weigh each piece against the invoice.

Documents: check origin of metal for the sanctions declaration. See our quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Precious metal article orders fail on fineness, weight and marking. Fineness is below the stated standard, weight is short against a metal-priced invoice, and items reach sale without a UK hallmark.

Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.