Sourcing reciprocating saw blades from China

UK duty on reciprocating saw blades

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8202 covers handsaws and saw blades of all kinds. For this product family, the relevant lines distinguish straight metal-working blades, other metal-working blades and blades for other materials. The table splits the other-materials line by intended use; those entries share a commodity code.

The relevant lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. The wider heading includes different blade types and rates; see the metal-cutting bandsaw blade guide.

Confirm the commodity code using the blade's shape and intended cutting material. Do not classify every blade in a mixed pack as a metal-cutting blade solely because it fits the same saw.

Shank fit, tooth pitch and cutting material

Specify overall and usable cutting length, width, thickness, shank drawing, tooth pitch and tooth set. State whether the blade is for metal, wood, nail-embedded timber or plastics. Agree the body and tooth materials, heat treatment and any coating. A description such as universal fit needs checking against the actual saw clamps your customers use.

Approve samples by cutting the intended material in a named saw model. Record the workpiece, saw setting, cutting method, cut quality and tooth wear so later batches can be compared fairly. Check clamp engagement and clearance throughout the stroke.

For blades intended for or likely to be used by consumers in Great Britain, general product safety rules require safe products under normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Treat secure retention, tooth breakage and handling exposed teeth as points to assess when approving the blade and pack.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10,000 straight metal-cutting reciprocating saw blades under 8202 91 00 00, invoiced at £35,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £37,000. Duty at 2% is £740. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £37,740, so it is £7,548. Import taxes total £8,288; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £740 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions and fit: measure length, width, thickness and shank geometry against the drawing; fit samples to the agreed saw clamps and check retention.

Material and teeth: compare material certificates with the specification, check hardness on samples and inspect tooth pitch, set, missing teeth and cracks.

Cutting performance: repeat the approved cutting test on shipment samples; compare cut wandering, tooth wear, bending and any tooth loss with the approved sample.

Packing and identification: check material-use descriptions, size markings and pack contents against approved artwork; check that tooth protection stays in place. Arrange quality inspection against this written checklist.

What goes wrong

A shank can look right but fail to lock securely. An unsuitable tooth pitch can snag thin material or clog in timber, while poor tooth set makes cuts wander. Soft teeth wear quickly; brittle teeth chip. On blades with joined tooth material, inspect the joint and include tooth loss in the cutting test.

Mixed packs can arrive with similar-looking blades in the wrong sleeves. Bent blades, exposed teeth and corrosion can also result from poor packing. Keep an approved sample for each blade type, check the contents against the pack description and repeat the same cutting test on later shipments.

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.