Sourcing steel brush wire from China
Steel brush wire from China under heading 7217 carries listed UK duties from 0% to 50%. Classify the wire by carbon content, coating and cross-sectional size, rather than its brush-making use alone. Check spring-back and cutting performance against an approved sample. Cambridge China Bridge sources steel brush wire.
UK duty on steel brush wire
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7217 covers wire of iron or non-alloy steel. This guide concerns wire supplied as brush fill material. Alloy and stainless steel wire belong in other headings. Confirm the commodity code using the material certificate, carbon content, coating and maximum cross-sectional dimension. See the wider steel wire guide for other wire applications.
The recorded duties for Chinese goods range from 0% to 50%. Uncoated lines carry 50%; zinc-coated lines carry 0%. Other base-metal coatings vary by carbon content and coating. The extract records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. It does not flag a steel measure, whereas the wider guide describes steel quota relief. Ask your customs broker to resolve that difference before costing an order; do not assume quota relief.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to the other-wire lines. For a waste import into England subject to notification controls, the exporter must apply to the authority in the dispatch country for consent. If a Chinese consignment involves discarded wire or its waste status is uncertain, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable control before shipment. Do not select an other-wire code merely because the wire is intended for brushes.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated brush wire, carbon below 0.25%, cross-section below 0.8 mm | 7217 10 10 00 | 50% | None |
| Uncoated brush wire, carbon at least 0.25% but below 0.6% | 7217 10 50 00 | 50% | None |
| Uncoated brush wire, carbon at least 0.6%, other | 7217 10 90 90 | 50% | None |
| Zinc-coated brush wire, carbon below 0.25%, cross-section below 0.8 mm | 7217 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Zinc-coated brush wire, carbon at least 0.6%, other | 7217 20 90 90 | 0% | None |
| Brush wire coated with other base metals, carbon at least 0.6% | 7217 30 90 00 | 0% | None |
Diameter, temper and crimp for brush fill
Specify carbon content, diameter and tolerance, tensile strength, temper, coating and delivery form. State whether the wire is straight or crimped, and agree the crimp profile, cut length or coil dimensions. Describe the intended brush and working surface so the factory can prepare a relevant sample. Keep an approved sample showing the agreed stiffness, spring-back and finish.
Trial the sample through your feeding, cutting and brush assembly process. Check whether cut ends split, wire takes a permanent bend or coils snag during payout. Request the composition of coatings and surface treatments: inclusion of a substance on the UK REACH Candidate List brings supplier obligations. Arrange a testing review where the composition needs assessment.
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether these tariff lines fall within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and whether the wider steel wire guide's stated start date of 1 January 2027 applies to your orders. Ask the mill for emissions data when preparing future orders.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of fine, low-carbon, zinc-coated brush wire in coils under 7217 20 10 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,000, so it is £1,200. 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 coil labels and batch certificates to the ordered carbon content, temper and coating; retain the connection between samples and production batches.
Geometry: measure diameter along sampled coils or bundles; compare crimp shape, cut length and straightness with the approved sample.
Performance: check tensile results and spring-back; run a cutting and assembly trial, looking for split ends, breakage and uneven brush fill.
Condition: inspect for rust, loose coating, excessive oil and tangled winding; check coil dimensions and packing against the order. Set these checks in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
Wire with the right diameter can still behave differently if its temper or crimp changes. Excessively soft wire bends and loses the agreed brush shape; brittle wire can break during cutting or assembly. Uneven crimp can cause inconsistent feeding and fill density. Approve the material in your process before accepting a substitution.
Wet packing encourages rust, and damaged coils can snag during payout. A coating described only as metallic leaves both the specification and tariff classification unclear. Record the actual coating material and carbon content on the order, then compare the shipping documents with the batch certificate.
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 steel brush wire from China?
The tariff extract lists 0% to 50% under heading 7217. Uncoated wire carries 50%; zinc-coated wire carries 0%. Other coatings depend on the line. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Can I classify brush wire by its intended use?
Use carbon content, coating and maximum cross-sectional dimension to select the line. A brush-making description alone does not identify the code. Obtain a material certificate before asking your broker to classify it.
How do I check whether the wire will work in my brushes?
Compare diameter, temper, crimp and spring-back with an approved sample. Trial feeding, cutting and assembly using the intended brush design, and check for broken wire and uneven fill.
What should I specify for coils of brush wire?
Agree coil weight, inner and outer dimensions, winding, payout direction and protection from moisture. Check that the coil fits your feeding equipment and unwinds without snagging.