Sourcing steel wire rope and cables from China
Stranded wire, ropes, cables and slings of iron or steel from China pay 0% UK customs duty, but steel ropes and cables with a maximum cross-section over 3 mm, other than stainless, carry a 60.4% anti-dumping duty, until 21 April 2028. Stainless rope and slings fall outside it. Rope for lifting must meet the machinery supply rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources wire rope.
Steel wire rope over 3 mm from China carries 60.4% UK anti-dumping duty until April 2028; stainless rope and slings do not. Lifting rules and a worked example.
0% duty, 60.4% anti-dumping on steel rope
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, stranded wire, ropes and cables of heading 7312 carried 0% customs duty on goods from China, but ropes and cables of steel with a maximum cross-sectional dimension over 3 mm, uncoated or zinc-coated or otherwise, carried an anti-dumping duty of 60.4%. Lines for rope consigned from Morocco and Korea are split out because those countries have their own measures.
GOV.UK announced on 14 November 2024 that the anti-dumping measure on steel ropes and cables from China would be maintained until 21 April 2028. Wire under 3 mm and loose wire are in other lines or in heading 7217; confirm the commodity code from the diameter, material and coating.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel stranded wire, ropes and cables | 7312 10 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Other, 3 mm or less, other | 7312 10 49 00 | 0% | None |
| Stranded wire over 3 mm, zinc-coated, other | 7312 10 65 99 | 0% | None |
| Steel rope 3 to 12 mm, uncoated or zinc-coated | 7312 10 81 19 | 0% | 60.4% |
| Steel rope 12 to 24 mm, uncoated or zinc-coated | 7312 10 83 19 | 0% | 60.4% |
| Steel rope 24 to 48 mm, uncoated or zinc-coated | 7312 10 85 19 | 0% | 60.4% |
| Other steel rope, such as plastic-coated | 7312 10 98 19 | 0% | 60.4% |
| Plaited bands, slings and the like | 7312 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Lifting rope
Wire rope for lifting is within the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 as a lifting accessory or part of lifting machinery, so it needs a declaration of conformity and a certificate stating the minimum breaking force, and slings must be marked with their working load limit. Steel wire ropes are specified to the EN 12385 series and wire rope slings to EN 13414. Employers then have thorough examination duties under the lifting equipment regulations.
Worked duty example
A made-up example rather than a quote: 10 tonnes of galvanised steel wire rope of 16 mm diameter, entered under 7312 10 83 19, bought for £22,000 free on board with £2,000 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £24,000. Customs duty is 0%, but the anti-dumping duty of 60.4% on the customs value is £14,496. Import VAT at 20% applies to the value plus that duty, £38,496, so it is £7,699.20; a VAT-registered importer usually recovers the VAT, but not the anti-dumping duty. Stainless steel rope and stranded wire under 3 mm fall outside the measure. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
What goes wrong
Wire rope fails on breaking force, construction and lubrication. Rope made from lower tensile grade wire than stated breaks below its certificate, construction that differs from the order, such as 6x19 supplied for 6x36, changes flexibility and fatigue life, and dry or poorly lubricated rope corrodes on the reel. The most expensive mistake is classification: declaring steel rope as stainless or as under 3 mm to avoid the anti-dumping duty leads to a demand for the duty, penalties and possible seizure.
Ask for the mill certificate and a break test on a sample from each reel, check diameter, lay, construction and lubrication, confirm the core type, check sling terminations and markings, and settle the commodity code and anti-dumping cost with your customs broker before you price the order.
Cambridge China Bridge sources wire rope, stainless rope and slings, with break tests, lifting certificates and the anti-dumping position agreed before the order. Read how we source lifting equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Is there anti-dumping duty on steel wire rope from China?
Yes. Steel ropes and cables over 3 mm from China carry 60.4%, maintained until 21 April 2028. Stainless rope is outside the measure.
What is the customs duty on wire rope from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, heading 7312 carried 0% customs duty, before any anti-dumping duty.
Which standards cover wire rope and slings?
The EN 12385 series for steel wire ropes and EN 13414 for wire rope slings.
Can I reclaim anti-dumping duty like VAT?
No. VAT is usually recoverable for a VAT-registered importer, but anti-dumping duty is a cost.