Sourcing steel spring washers from China

UK duty and spring washer classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7318 covers iron or steel fasteners, including spring washers. The supplied spring and lock washer lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. They show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension, steel measure or attached import control.

Stainless spring washers are listed under 7318 21 00 91; other steel spring washers shipped directly from China are listed under 7318 21 00 98. The separate line 7318 21 00 95 describes goods consigned from Malaysia. The table also includes other washers to help distinguish companion flat washers from spring washers.

Give your customs broker the drawing, material description and shipment route to confirm the commodity code. For related articles within the wider heading, see steel retaining rings. Duty and import VAT are explained in UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the spring action and finish

State the washer form, steel grade, inside and outside diameters, section thickness, free height and tolerances. For split washers, define the split geometry and end condition. Agree the compression method, acceptable recovery and hardness checks against an approved drawing and sample.

Specify heat treatment, coating, corrosion test method and acceptance criteria. Ask for material and coating composition records. Where UK REACH duties to communicate information on substances in articles apply, the information must include the substance name as a minimum. Keep these records linked to the supplied batch.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: mixed-size cartons of steel spring washers for a machinery spares business under 7318 21 00 98, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,300, so it is £860. 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 diameters, thickness, free height and split geometry against the drawing; trial-fit washers with the intended fastener.

Spring recovery: compress samples using the agreed method, check recovery and inspect for cracking or permanent flattening.

Surface: inspect burrs, split ends, rust, coating coverage and flaking; compare coating test results with the agreed finish.

Batch identity: match carton labels, material records and heat-treatment results to the shipment; separate mixed sizes and finishes on arrival.

What goes wrong

A washer can fit the bolt but fail the agreed recovery check. Incorrect material or heat treatment can leave it permanently flattened or cracked. Burrs damage mating surfaces, while uneven coating and damp packing leave rust or loose flakes.

A supplier may replace the approved washer with a similar-looking form or mix batches with different hardness. Treat drawing changes as approval decisions, retain reference samples and inspect the delivered batch. Use quality inspection to plan checks before dispatch and on arrival.

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.