Sourcing steel equal angles from China

Equal angles: manufacture determines the duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 October 2026, heading 7216 covers angles, shapes and sections of iron or non-alloy steel. Equal angles have matching leg widths. The hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded angle lines divide at a height of 80 mm. Cold-formed or cold-finished angles have separate lines, including a distinction for those made from flat-rolled products.

The supplied tariff snapshot records 50% for the hot-rolled angle lines and 0% for the cold-formed lines shown here. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Our wider published guide describes 0% quota access for hot-rolled sections, but this snapshot contains no quota details. Ask your broker to confirm any available quota treatment before budgeting a reduced rate.

Confirm the manufacturing process, dimensions, steel composition and any further working before choosing the commodity code. These lines cover more than equal angles, so the table is a shortlist rather than a classification decision. See steel beams and sections for the wider heading.

Specify equal legs, thickness and structural use

Give the mill a drawing stating equal leg widths, thickness, root radius, length, straightness and agreed tolerances. Specify the steel grade, manufacturing process and surface condition, including whether galvanising is required. Agree how heat numbers will remain identifiable after cutting, coating and bundling.

For hot-rolled structural angles, confirm with the relevant construction products authority what declaration of performance and UKCA or CE marking documentation is required before ordering. CE marking continues to be available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. Match any declared product and intended use to your order; ask the authority whether the mill certificate provides sufficient evidence or separate documentation is needed.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of cold-formed equal angles from flat-rolled products; illustrative order under 7216 61 10 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,000, so it is £4,000. 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

Dimensions: measure both leg widths, thickness, angle between the legs, length and straightness against the agreed drawing and tolerances.

Traceability: match bundle and piece markings to heat numbers, mill certificates, chemistry and mechanical results for the ordered grade.

Surface: inspect for cracks, laps, rolled-in scale, corrosion and coating damage; examine cut ends and areas hidden by straps.

Packing: check bundle identification, protection and separation of sizes and heats, then repeat dimensional and damage checks on arrival. Use an agreed inspection brief.

What goes wrong

An equal-angle order can arrive with unequal legs, thin material, twist or the wrong manufacturing process. Mixed heats and certificates that cannot be matched to the bundles make acceptance harder. Measure samples before loading and keep the inspection results tied to identifiable bundles.

A quote based on cold-formed classification can understate duty when the mill supplies hot-rolled angles. Keep the process description consistent across the order, mill documents and customs instructions. For structural use, resolve missing declarations and marking evidence before dispatch.

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.