Sourcing steel tyre bead wire from China

Duty depends on the wire and coating

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026, heading 7217 covers wire of iron or non-alloy steel. For high-carbon tyre bead wire, the supplied snapshot records 0% for other-base-metal-coated wire under 7217 30 90 00, zinc-coated other wire under 7217 20 90 90 and other wire under 7217 90 90 00. Uncoated other wire under 7217 10 90 90 carries 50%.

The snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions for these lines. It attaches import and export waste controls to 7217 90 90 00. Waste shipped under notification controls requires consent from the destination, dispatch and transit authorities. For a shipment from China, ask the customs broker to confirm whether the waste control applies and which procedure is required.

Confirm the commodity code using carbon content, coating composition and cross-sectional dimensions, rather than the description “bead wire” alone. The prestressing wire guide gives related coverage of the wider heading. Separate duty from import VAT when checking UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the bead wire and rubber bond

State steel grade, carbon content, diameter and tolerance, tensile strength, elongation and the agreed test methods. Specify coating composition and coating quantity, surface cleanliness and any lubricant. Agree how adhesion will be tested with the intended rubber compound and curing process.

Specify spool dimensions, winding direction, coil weight, permitted joins and protection against moisture. Request heat and batch traceability, material certificates and samples for the tyre maker’s winding and adhesion trials before approving production.

Check the UK REACH position of the wire, coating and any separately supplied preparation. HSE says registration applies to substances on their own, substances in mixtures and, in limited cases, substances in articles. Do not assume that the coating description alone settles the assessment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50 tonnes of coated high-carbon tyre bead wire under 7217 30 90 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £43,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £43,000, so it is £8,600. 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

Dimensions: measure diameter and ovality across sampled spools against the agreed tolerance.

Mechanical properties: check tensile and elongation results against the purchase specification and match reports to the delivered batches.

Coating and adhesion: check coating composition, coverage, contamination and rubber-adhesion results using the agreed compound and test method.

Spools and traceability: inspect winding, kinks, rust, packaging damage and joins; match spool labels to heat numbers and certificates. Arrange quality inspection around these checks.

What goes wrong

Wire can meet the ordered diameter yet fail the rubber-bond trial because its coating or surface condition differs from the approved sample. Inconsistent mechanical properties can cause breaks during winding. Crossed winding, kinks and hidden joins interrupt feeding, while moisture damage leaves rust beneath the wrapping.

Quarantine affected batches and retain labelled samples before mixing stock. Compare the delivered wire, certificates and trial results with the approved specification. Treat a changed coating or steel grade as a change needing buyer review, including a fresh commodity-code check.

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.