Sourcing steel wire rope clips from China
The candidate steel wire rope clip codes carry 2% UK duty from China, so the ordinary duty range is a single rate. Specify the rope and intended application before ordering. HSE offshore guidance advises against grip terminations in a crane's primary load path. Cambridge China Bridge sources steel wire rope clips.
Duty and classification for rope clips
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 7326 covers other articles of iron or steel. The table shows conditional manufacturing routes, not interchangeable codes for every clip. Finished assemblies need classification against their actual construction and processing. Send drawings, material details and manufacturing information when confirming the commodity code.
The listed candidates carry 2% ordinary duty from China, with no residual anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no steel measure recorded. Suspensions on the unworked other forged or stamped line and the closed-die forged line concern specified curved discs and trailer-hitch ball necks respectively, not ordinary rope clips. The finished other-articles line has no suspension.
The tariff attaches torture and repression import and export controls to the finished other-articles line. The official import notice describes a ban on listed torture equipment. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable declaration requirement for ordinary clips from China. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether heading 7326 and the actual clips fall within UK CBAM, and when any obligations apply. Read the CBAM guide and the import duty and VAT guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open-die forged articles, not further worked: conditional classification route | 7326 19 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Other forged or stamped articles, not further worked: conditional route | 7326 19 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Other closed-die forged steel articles: possible route for forged clips | 7326 90 94 90 | 2% | None |
| Other steel articles: possible route for finished wire rope clips | 7326 90 98 90 | 2% | None |
Match the clip to the rope and application
Specify rope diameter and construction, saddle shape, bolt dimensions, thread form, nut engagement, material and coating. State whether the saddle is forged or cast, and agree a drawing and physical sample. Ask for fitting instructions covering orientation, tightening and the proposed termination arrangement. Include the actual rope in sample trials rather than approving the clip alone.
Describe the intended application before accepting any load claim. HSE offshore guidance advises against using wire rope grip terminations on a crane's primary load path. For a proposed lifting application, ask a competent specialist to assess suitability and whether the product is a regulated lifting accessory. Under the machinery rules, responsible persons must compile a technical file and make it available on request.
Order the rope and clips against compatible specifications. Our steel wire rope and cables guide covers the rope itself.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 5,000 steel wire rope clips, subject to classification confirmation under 7326 90 98 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £35,000. Duty at 2% is £700. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £35,700, so it is £7,140. Import taxes total £7,840; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £700 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: compare saddle dimensions and bolt clearance with the approved drawing, then assemble samples on the specified rope.
Threads: check nut engagement, damaged threads and tightening behaviour after coating. Look for nuts that bind before the saddle seats.
Material and finish: match batch material records to the order, inspect saddles for cracks and burrs, and check coating coverage and corrosion.
Identity and testing: match bags, cartons and batch records to the correct clip size. Agree an application-specific assembly test and retain its results alongside the inspection record.
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What goes wrong
A matching size label can conceal a saddle that does not seat on the rope, a bolt with inadequate thread engagement or nuts that seize after coating. Mixed sizes in a carton make these faults harder to spot. Check assembled fit and keep each size and batch identifiable.
A catalogue load claim may describe a different rope or termination arrangement. Loose fitting instructions leave the installer guessing about orientation and tightening. Agree the complete assembly and acceptance test before production, and do not substitute a different saddle material without reviewing the specification.
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 wire rope clips from China?
The candidate codes in the supplied tariff data carry 2% ordinary duty, with no residual anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Confirm the code for the finished clip.
Can I use imported wire rope clips for crane lifting?
Do not assume suitability. Have the proposed assembly assessed for its application.
What should I send a Chinese rope clip factory?
Send the rope specification, application, clip drawing, saddle material, bolt and thread details, coating requirements and proposed assembly test.
Does heading 7326 mean a rope clip is made from wire?
No. This heading covers other iron or steel articles. Manufacturing method and further processing matter; the rope's material does not determine the clip's code.