Sourcing Stainless Steel Brush Wire from China
Stainless steel brush wire from China carries 0% UK duty across heading 7223, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Classification depends on alloy composition, so match the mill chemistry to the commodity code rather than relying on the description 'brush wire'. Cambridge China Bridge sources stainless steel brush wire.
Duty on stainless steel brush wire
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7223 covers wire of stainless steel. The supplied tariff records show 0% duty for Chinese-origin goods on every line, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, no steel measure and no suspension. This guide concerns wire bought for brush manufacture. See the wider stainless steel wire guide for other applications.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches import and export waste controls to every line. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements for any consignment supplied as waste from China. For imports into England under notification controls, shipment can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved.
Confirm the code from the mill's nickel, chromium and aluminium analysis using finding your commodity code. The ordinary grade examples in the table are 304, 316 and 430; the specialised composition lines are not interchangeable brush materials. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether heading 7223 falls within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism for imports from 1 January 2027. See the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other stainless wire with at least 2.5% nickel, including 304 and 316 | 7223 00 19 00 | 0% | None |
| Other stainless wire with less than 2.5% nickel, including 430 | 7223 00 99 00 | 0% | None |
| Specialised stainless wire with 28% to 31% nickel and 20% to 22% chromium | 7223 00 11 00 | 0% | None |
| Wire with less than 2.5% nickel, 13% to 25% chromium and 3.5% to 6% aluminium | 7223 00 91 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the wire for your brush-making process
State the stainless grade, diameter and tolerance, tensile strength, elongation and surface condition. Specify straight or crimped wire, and for crimped wire agree the crimp shape and spacing against an approved sample. Describe the brush application, working surface and exposure to cleaning chemicals so the supplier can propose material for your review.
Agree spool dimensions, winding direction, coil weight and acceptable joints. Trial the sample through your own feeding, cutting and brush assembly process, then compare bristle stiffness, recovery and shedding. Ask for a mill certificate matching each heat. UK REACH generally covers substances in mixtures and articles as well as substances supplied alone; request composition and surface-treatment information for your compliance review.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10 tonnes of 304 stainless steel brush wire under 7223 00 19 00, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £1,100 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £33,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,100, so it is £6,620. 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
Grade and traceability: match spool tags to mill certificates and independently check alloy composition on samples from each heat.
Diameter and crimp: measure diameter and ovality across the lot, then compare crimp shape and consistency with the approved sample.
Temper and performance: test tensile strength and elongation, and make trial brushes to check stiffness, recovery and wire breakage.
Surface and payout: inspect for rust spots, scratches, residue and sharp defects; unwind sample spools to check crossed turns, tangles and hidden joints. Plan checks with quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
A matching grade name does not guarantee matching brush behaviour. Diameter drift, uneven crimp or a different temper can change stiffness and feeding. Poor winding can stop the brush-making line, while surface defects or brittle wire can become broken bristles during use.
Keep the approved sample and its specification together. Record failures by heat and spool, and agree acceptance checks before production. Verify that the supplier can control drawing, crimping and winding through factory verification.
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 brush wire from China?
The supplied tariff records show 0% on every heading 7223 line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no steel measure. Import VAT is separate.
Which commodity code applies to 304 or 316 brush wire?
The wider wire guide places 304 and 316 under 7223 00 19 00. Confirm the actual mill chemistry and goods description before declaring the shipment.
Can I substitute another stainless grade for brush wire?
Approve any change through a brush-making trial. Compare stiffness, recovery, breakage and behaviour in the intended working environment rather than accepting a grade-name substitution.
What should I test before buying a production batch?
Check composition, diameter, tensile strength, elongation, crimp and spool payout. Make trial brushes using your own process and agree acceptance criteria against the approved sample.