Sourcing stainless bellows strip from China
Stainless steel bellows strip from China under heading 7220 carries 0% UK duty across the supplied lines, with no anti-dumping duty shown. Classify the flat strip by width, thickness, nickel content and processing condition, then agree forming and welding acceptance checks. Cambridge China Bridge sources stainless steel bellows strip.
Zero duty on bellows strip
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7220 covers flat-rolled stainless steel less than 600 mm wide. This guide concerns flat strip bought for bellows manufacture. The cold-rolled lines distinguish thickness not exceeding 0.35 mm from thickness exceeding 0.35 mm but below 3 mm, and nickel content below or at least 2.5%.
The supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. They show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control. Recheck the position before shipment. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.
Confirm the commodity code using the mill chemistry, dimensions, processing history and actual consignment country. The table selects cold-rolled lines relevant to bellows feedstock; it does not approve each material for your design. For wider sourcing coverage, see stainless steel precision foil.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-rolled strip, thickness ≤0.35 mm, nickel ≥2.5%, other consignments | 7220 20 81 90 | 0% | None |
| Cold-rolled strip, thickness ≤0.35 mm, nickel <2.5%, other consignments | 7220 20 89 90 | 0% | None |
| Cold-rolled strip, thickness >0.35 mm but <3 mm, nickel ≥2.5%, other consignments | 7220 20 41 90 | 0% | None |
| Cold-rolled strip, thickness >0.35 mm but <3 mm, nickel <2.5%, other consignments | 7220 20 49 90 | 0% | None |
Specify strip for forming and seam welding
Agree the stainless grade, annealed condition, thickness tolerance, width, surface cleanliness and slit-edge condition with the bellows maker. State coil inner diameter, winding direction, permitted joints and coil identification. Ask for heat-linked chemistry and mechanical results. Approve strip through the intended forming and seam-welding process before releasing the production order; a flat sample alone cannot demonstrate finished bellows performance.
Confirm with HMRC whether this heading falls within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism, when any obligations apply, and whether registration and record retention are required for your imports. Ask the mill for emissions data alongside material records, and review the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A consignment of slit coils for a bellows manufacturer's trial production, illustrative under 7220 20 81 90, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,800, so it is £3,960. 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
Traceability: match coil labels to heat-linked certificates and the agreed grade, chemistry and mechanical properties.
Gauge and edges: measure thickness across the width and along sampled lengths; check slit width, burrs, edge cracks and camber against the purchase specification.
Surface and packing: inspect for scratches, embedded particles, oil residues, moisture and damaged coil edges before feeding strip into the forming line.
Process trial: form and weld representative strip, then examine thinning, splitting and seam defects. Agree leak and fatigue acceptance with the bellows designer. Use the inspection guide to document checks.
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What goes wrong
A coil can meet nominal thickness yet vary enough to produce uneven bellows walls. Hardness variation can cause inconsistent forming, while slit-edge cracks and burrs can initiate splits. Scratches or contaminated weld edges can become leak paths after forming and welding.
Do not accept a grade certificate as the entire approval. Keep incoming coils identifiable, compare production material with the approved process trial and isolate suspect coils before further processing. Agree how changes in mill, annealing condition or slitting route will be reviewed.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on stainless steel bellows strip from China?
The supplied heading 7220 lines show 0% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control. Confirm the exact line before shipment.
Which commodity code applies to thin bellows strip?
For cold-rolled strip not exceeding 0.35 mm, the supplied other-consignment lines are 7220 20 81 90 for nickel of at least 2.5%, and 7220 20 89 90 below that. Confirm composition and processing.
What should I put on a bellows-strip purchase specification?
State grade, annealed condition, thickness and width tolerances, edge quality, surface cleanliness, coil dimensions, permitted joints and traceability. Agree a forming and welding trial.
How do I check whether the strip will form without cracking?
Review heat-linked mechanical results and trial representative strip through your forming process. Check edge cracking, local thinning and weld quality against agreed acceptance criteria.