Sourcing rolled annealed copper foil from China

UK duty on rolled annealed copper foil

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7410 covers copper foil no thicker than 0.15 mm excluding backing. Unbacked refined rolled annealed foil fits the other refined copper foil description under 7410 11 00 90. The table also covers alloy and backed forms for buyers ordering those variants. For comparison across the heading, see our electrodeposited copper foil guide.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for Chinese goods on all listed lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures. No import controls are attached to the table rows. The suspension recorded for 7410 11 00 90 is restricted to electrolytically manufactured refined copper foil and strips at least 0.015 mm thick; it does not describe rolled annealed foil. The ordinary duty is already 0%.

Confirm composition, manufacturing process and backing against the commodity code guide, and use the confirmed code on the import declaration. Describe rolled annealed manufacture explicitly rather than copying an electrolytic foil description. The worked order is illustrative, not a supplier quotation.

Specify annealed temper and bend performance

Write rolled annealed manufacture into the purchase specification. Agree copper grade, foil thickness and tolerance, width, roll length, core dimensions, winding direction and annealed temper. For flexing applications, agree a bend test using the intended bend direction and acceptance criteria. Ask for tensile strength and elongation results linked to the production lot.

Specify surface roughness, treatment on each face and the face intended for bonding. For backed material, identify the backing, adhesive and peel-strength acceptance criteria. Trial the foil in your own lamination and flexing process before approving repeat orders.

For foil going into electrical products, obtain composition and surface-treatment declarations that support the finished product's hazardous-substance compliance. UK REACH registration applies to substances alone, in mixtures and in certain limited cases in articles. Ask a compliance adviser to assess the supplied form and coating rather than assuming every foil shipment needs registration.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial order of unbacked rolled annealed refined copper foil in rolls under 7410 11 00 90, invoiced at £7,760 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,960. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,960, so it is £1,992. 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

Dimensions: measure thickness and width across sample strips, compare roll weight with the agreed length, and check slit edges for burrs.

Temper: match mill certificates to roll labels; check tensile strength, elongation and the agreed bend test against the purchase specification.

Surface: inspect for pinholes, scratches, wrinkles and oxidation; confirm the treated face and test bonding on backed material.

Packing: check sealed moisture-resistant wrapping, desiccant, protected roll edges and supported cores; record wet packaging or transit dents before unpacking.

What goes wrong

A supplier substitutes electrodeposited foil or supplies the wrong temper, and the material fails the buyer's bend trial. Uneven thickness, damaged edges and wrinkles can also disrupt processing. Keep an approved sample and require written agreement before changing the manufacturing route, temper or treatment.

Oxidation and contaminated bonding faces can reduce adhesion, while crushed cores make unwinding difficult. Agree packing and surface acceptance criteria before dispatch, then compare arrival samples with the approved material. See our quality inspection guide.

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.