Sourcing stainless guidewire feedstock from China
Stainless steel wire feedstock for medical guidewires from China carries 0% UK duty across heading 7223. Raw materials are normally not medical devices in Great Britain; agree alloy, temper, surface and heat traceability with the guidewire manufacturer. Cambridge China Bridge sources stainless steel wire feedstock for medical guidewires.
Duty on stainless steel guidewire feedstock
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7223 covers wire of stainless steel. Every supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure or suspension recorded. For 304 and 316 feedstock, check 7223 00 19 00 against the actual composition. The table includes the heading's composition alternatives; use only an alloy approved for your guidewire design.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to every line. For a China-to-England consignment classed as waste and subject to notification controls, destination, dispatch and transit authorities must consent before shipment. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements for the consignment, including whether it is waste.
Confirm the commodity code from the supplied material and composition. The carbon border adjustment mechanism applies from 1 January 2027; confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether these stainless wire lines are in scope. Ask the mill for emissions data and consult our UK carbon border adjustment guide. For wider wire specifications, see stainless steel spring wire.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless wire, nickel 2.5% or more, other compositions, including 304 and 316 | 7223 00 19 00 | 0% | None |
| Stainless wire, nickel 28% to 31% and chromium 20% to 22% | 7223 00 11 00 | 0% | None |
| Stainless wire, nickel below 2.5%, other compositions | 7223 00 99 00 | 0% | None |
| Wire, nickel below 2.5%, chromium 13% to 25%, aluminium 3.5% to 6% | 7223 00 91 00 | 0% | None |
Specify feedstock for your guidewire process
Agree alloy composition, diameter tolerance, ovality, tensile strength, elongation and delivery temper with the guidewire manufacturer. Define surface finish, permissible drawing marks, cleanliness, residual drawing lubricant and spool winding. Request a heat-specific mill certificate and retain samples for comparison with repeat deliveries.
Trial the wire through your intended straightening, grinding, forming and coating processes. Agree acceptance criteria for bending response, surface defects and process residues. Have the guidewire manufacturer approve the material and test results before releasing a production batch.
Official guidance says raw materials and intermediate components are normally not medical devices in Great Britain. UK REACH registration covers substances and mixtures, and substances in articles in limited cases. Confirm the status of the supplied wire and any coating with your compliance adviser.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 kg of spooled stainless steel guidewire feedstock, illustrative trial order under 7223 00 19 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £1,100 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,100, so it is £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
Identity: match spool labels and heat numbers to mill certificates; independently check alloy composition on samples.
Dimensions: measure diameter and ovality along sampled wire; check straightness after unwinding against the agreed method.
Surface: inspect for scratches, seams, pits, rust spots and lubricant residues against the agreed acceptance criteria.
Condition and packing: check tensile strength, elongation and bending response; inspect winding, spool damage and protective wrapping. Record results using the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A matching alloy name can conceal a different temper or surface condition. Diameter drift can upset grinding and coating; scratches can remain after processing; tangled winding can interrupt feeding. Certificates that cannot be matched to individual spools leave the buyer unable to trace the material.
Specify measurable acceptance criteria and compare arrival samples with the approved trial material. Investigate mixed heats and unexplained process changes before using the batch. Use factory verification to check the supplier's drawing, cleaning, testing and traceability arrangements.
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 guidewire feedstock from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 0% across heading 7223, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure or suspension recorded.
Is stainless steel guidewire feedstock a medical device?
Official Great Britain guidance says raw materials and intermediate components are normally not medical devices. Agree material acceptance with the finished guidewire manufacturer.
Which commodity code covers 316 guidewire wire?
Check 7223 00 19 00 for stainless wire containing 2.5% or more nickel outside the separately specified nickel-chromium composition. Confirm using the actual mill chemistry.
What should I check before using imported guidewire wire?
Match heat certificates to spools, check chemistry, diameter, surface and mechanical properties, then trial the wire through your guidewire manufacturing process.