Sourcing sliding bevel gauges from China

Duty on sliding bevel gauges

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9017 covers drawing, marking-out and mathematical calculating instruments, plus specified hand-held measuring instruments. For a manual sliding bevel used to copy angles and mark workpieces, marking-out instruments under 9017 20 39 00 are the starting classification to check. See the protractor guide for wider heading coverage.

The supplied snapshot lists 2% duty for marking-out instruments and parts and accessories from China. It records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. The table separates handle variants sharing a classification from parts; handle material alone does not establish a different code.

Confirm the commodity code using the actual construction, function and presentation. Supply photographs showing the adjustable blade and locking mechanism, and identify whether the shipment contains complete tools or separate replacement parts.

Blade, stock and locking mechanism

Specify blade material, length, thickness, slot travel and edge finish; stock material and reference-face flatness; and the position and type of lock. Agree acceptable blade movement after tightening and a repeatable angle-transfer check. Check whether the locking screw obstructs the stock when it rests against a workpiece.

For Great Britain, general product safety requirements apply where consumer use is intended or reasonably foreseeable, and require safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Assess blade burrs, exposed screw ends and trapped fingers around the pivot. Agree packaging, identification artwork and operating instructions with the supplier.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order only: 900 sliding bevel gauges under 9017 20 39 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 2% is £218. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,118, so it is £2,223.60. Import taxes total £2,441.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £218 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Angle transfer: set the blade against a reference angle, tighten it, move the tool and compare the transferred angle for movement.

Reference faces: check blade straightness and stock flatness against a reference surface; inspect the slot and blade edges for burrs.

Lock and pivot: check smooth adjustment, secure clamping and repeatability after repeated release and tightening; look for stripped threads and pivot play.

Arrival condition: inspect for rust, bent blades, cracked handles and loose fasteners; compare packing and identification with the approved artwork. Agree the sampling plan through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A bevel can look correct while its blade slips as the lock tightens or during marking. Uneven stock faces make the tool rock against timber, and a projecting lock prevents it sitting flush. Thin blades can bend in transit, while rough slots catch during adjustment.

Approve a sample using the intended marking task, then repeat that task on production samples and arrival checks. Record the setting before and after clamping, inspect hidden contact faces and agree protective packing for the blade.

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.