Sourcing commercial wash troughs from China

Duty on commercial wash troughs

Heading 7324 covers sanitary ware and parts of iron or steel. Stainless steel wash troughs fall within the sinks and washbasins family, with 7324 10 00 90 the line to check for the trough body. The table separates installation styles sharing that code from sanitary-ware parts. See the wider sinks and baths guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 October 2026, all supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is generally 20%; see import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual trough and shipment contents. Give your customs broker drawings, materials and a list of separately supplied taps, wastes and supports rather than assuming every component shares the trough body's code.

Specify the trough, drainage and supports

Agree a dimensioned drawing covering overall length, projection, basin depth, splashback, tap positions, outlet position and mounting height. State stainless steel grade, sheet thickness, finish, weld treatment and whether brackets, legs, wastes and taps are included. Ask for a sample using the intended waste fitting and support arrangement.

For taps and fittings on the water supply, settle compliance with the applicable water fittings rules before ordering. Have the installer review the supplied fittings and connection details. Keep the trough body's specification separate from evidence for the water-supply components.

For food-business installations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, official guidance requires enough washbasins for staff, with hot and cold running water and materials for cleaning and hygienically drying hands. Plan the trough, supply and surrounding facilities together.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of commercial wash troughs for a premises refurbishment under 7324 10 00 90, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,100, so it is £820. 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

Material: verify the agreed stainless grade on samples and measure sheet thickness at the basin and rim.

Welds and drainage: inspect seams for pinholes and sharp edges, fill the trough to check for leaks, then drain it in its intended mounting position and look for retained water.

Mounting and connections: compare bracket positions and outlet locations with the drawing; trial-fit the intended waste, taps and supports.

Arrival and packing: check the long rim for twisting, corners for dents, and protective film for damage. Record defects before installation and compare findings with the inspection checklist process.

What goes wrong

Long troughs can arrive bowed or twisted, leaving brackets misaligned and water collecting away from the outlet. Thin sheet, unsupported rims and inadequate packing increase the risk of dents. Agree the support arrangement and drainage test before production.

Other failures include leaking welds, rust staining around poorly treated seams, mismatched waste fittings and tap holes in the wrong position. Approve a fitted sample and require inspection photographs showing the underside, connections and packing, as well as the visible finish.

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.