Sourcing stainless filter mesh from China

Duty on stainless steel woven filter cloth

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026, heading 7314 covers steel wire cloth, grill, netting, fencing and expanded metal. For this guide, ordinary stainless steel woven cloth is described under 7314 14 00 00; endless stainless steel bands for machinery are described under 7314 12 00 00. The table shows supply forms sharing these codes, rather than separate tariff lines.

Both relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension, steel measure or attached import control for these lines. Import VAT is generally 20%; see the import duty and VAT guide.

Confirm the material, woven construction and whether the goods are ordinary cloth or an endless machinery band using the commodity-code guide. Describe any frame, housing or finished filter assembly separately when seeking classification advice. See the wire mesh and fencing guide for the wider heading.

Specify the weave and filtration duty

Specify the stainless steel grade, wire diameter, weave, aperture, usable width, roll length or cut dimensions, and agreed tolerances. Distinguish plain or twill square-opening cloth from Dutch weave. For Dutch weave, agree how the supplier establishes the filtration rating rather than treating mesh count alone as proof of particle retention.

Give the supplier the fluid or powder, operating temperature, pressure difference, cleaning method and support arrangement. Ask for a sample tested in your process, a material certificate linked to the batch, and an agreed method for checking filtration performance.

For food-contact applications, materials must be demonstrably safe within their application and must not adversely affect food or drink. Ask for evidence covering the proposed food, contact conditions and cleaning process. Agree suitable testing through testing and certification support.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 60 rolls of stainless steel woven filter cloth under 7314 14 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,000, so it is £2,600. 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: match roll labels and batch references to the material certificate; arrange composition verification where material identity matters to the process.

Weave and openings: inspect magnified samples for missing or broken wires, irregular openings and weaving faults; measure wire diameter and aperture against the approved specification.

Dimensions and edges: check usable width, cut dimensions, roll length and edge finish; look for creases, fraying and distortion that prevent flat mounting.

Cleanliness and performance: inspect for oil, loose wire and embedded debris; compare a batch sample with the agreed flow and particle-retention test before accepting it for use.

What goes wrong

A supplier can deliver the requested mesh count with a different wire diameter, changing the opening and flow. A Dutch-weave rating can also be misunderstood if its test method is unspecified. Approve a sample and record both the physical specification and the performance acceptance method.

Creased rolls, frayed cuts and loose wire can make otherwise suitable cloth unusable. Mixed batches weaken material traceability. Agree protective cores, edge protection and separate batch labels before dispatch, then inspect the goods before cutting or installing them.

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.