Sourcing stainless steel spring strip from China
Stainless steel spring strip under 600 mm wide has a 0% UK duty rate across the relevant Chinese-origin lines. Classification follows thickness, nickel content and processing, so match the mill certificate to the supplied condition rather than the trade name. Cambridge China Bridge sources stainless steel spring strip.
Duty and classification for spring 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 strip supplied for making springs and clips. For other forms and uses, see our stainless steel strip guide.
The relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control. Cold-rolled lines divide by thickness and nickel content. Further processing can affect classification, so confirm the supplied condition and consignment route with your broker using our commodity code guide.
The UK carbon border adjustment mechanism starts on 1 January 2027. Confirm with your customs broker whether these stainless strip lines fall within its scope. Ask the mill for emissions information and review your registration position before deliveries under that scheme. Keep commercial invoices and customs paperwork. Allow separately for import VAT at 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-rolled strip, thickness over 0.35 mm but under 3 mm, nickel at least 2.5% | 7220 20 41 90 | 0% | None |
| Cold-rolled strip, thickness over 0.35 mm but under 3 mm, nickel below 2.5% | 7220 20 49 90 | 0% | None |
| Cold-rolled strip, thickness up to 0.35 mm, nickel at least 2.5% | 7220 20 81 90 | 0% | None |
| Cold-rolled strip, thickness up to 0.35 mm, nickel below 2.5% | 7220 20 89 90 | 0% | None |
Specify temper and spring performance
Specify the stainless grade, delivery condition, hardness range, tensile properties, thickness and width tolerances. State whether the strip will be formed before or after any heat treatment. A description such as ‘spring quality’ leaves too much unresolved. Agree a sample forming trial and the finished spring's load, deflection and fatigue acceptance criteria with your parts maker.
Define slit-edge condition, permitted burrs, camber, surface finish, coil winding direction, inner diameter and coil weight. Ask for a mill inspection certificate showing heat number, chemistry and mechanical properties, with each slit coil traceable to its parent coil. Confirm whether the supplier performs the rolling and slitting or buys material from another mill through factory verification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3 tonnes of cold-rolled stainless steel spring strip, thickness over 0.35 mm but under 3 mm, nickel at least 2.5%; illustrative FOB value and freight including insurance under 7220 20 41 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, heat numbers and delivery condition to the order and mill certificate; independently check chemistry where substitution is a concern.
Mechanical properties: sample hardness and tensile properties against the agreed ranges; run the approved forming trial and check for cracking and inconsistent spring response.
Dimensions and edges: measure thickness across the width and along sampled lengths, check width and camber, and inspect slit edges for burrs and cracks.
Surface and packing: inspect for scratches, roll marks, staining and damaged coil edges; check protective wrapping and coil identification before releasing stock. Set the sampling scope in your inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
Strip can match the ordered grade but have the wrong temper. Hardness variation then causes uneven forming or spring response, while excessive hardness can cause cracking. Thickness near the agreed tolerance boundary can also change part performance. Approve the material condition through measured results and a forming trial before accepting a repeat supply.
Poor slitting leaves burrs and camber that interrupt feeding or damage tools. Mixed slit coils can lose their connection to the original test certificate. Keep suspect coils separate on arrival, preserve their labels and record the defect against the agreed specification before using them in production.
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 spring strip from China?
The relevant heading 7220 lines carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff snapshot, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or steel measure. Confirm the exact code and current measures before shipment.
Which commodity code covers stainless steel spring strip?
For strip not further worked than cold-rolled, thickness and nickel content select the line. The name ‘spring strip’ alone does not establish the code; give your broker the mill certificate and processing details.
How do I check that the strip has the right spring temper?
Match the delivery condition and certificate to your order, sample hardness and tensile properties, and trial the material in your forming process. Grade chemistry alone does not confirm spring performance.
Will the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism cover spring strip?
The UK carbon border adjustment mechanism starts on 1 January 2027; confirm with your customs broker whether the stainless strip lines covered here fall within its scope. Review your registration position and ask the mill for emissions information before deliveries under the scheme.