Sourcing tapered roller bearings from China

8% duty on tapered roller bearings

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, tapered roller bearings, including cone and tapered roller assemblies, fall under 8482 20 00 00 and carry 8% duty for goods from China. Heading 8482 covers ball or roller bearings; see the wider bearings guide for other families.

The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or import control for the tapered bearing line or the parts selected here. Separate tapered rollers and the listed unfinished rings and punched cages also carry 8%. Other bearing parts can have different tariff treatment, so do not apply an assembly's code to every loose component.

Confirm the commodity code against the goods as shipped, including whether they are complete bearings or separate parts. The import declaration must include the commodity code. Use drawings, material details and the invoice description when checking with your customs broker.

Specify the cone, cup and installed setting

State the cone and cup designations, bore, outside diameter, assembled width and whether the order includes complete matched bearings or cone assemblies alone. Agree the tolerance class, steel grade, cage material and rust protection. Use ISO 355 for tapered bearing boundary dimensions and ISO 492 for tolerance classes.

Describe the shaft and housing fit, operating loads, speed, lubrication and required installed endplay or preload. Ask the supplier to confirm suitability against the application drawing rather than accepting a designation cross-reference alone. Keep an approved sample and agree which measurements and running checks determine acceptance.

Verify branded stock or specify the factory's own brand or unbranded supply; ask for material and heat-treatment records.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed batch of tapered roller bearings for machinery maintenance under 8482 20 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,500. Duty at 8% is £360. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,860, so it is £972. Import taxes total £1,332; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £360 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and fit: compare cone and cup markings with the order, check that each pack contains the agreed components, and measure bore, outside diameter and assembled width against the drawing.

Raceways and rollers: inspect for rust, grinding damage, dents and contamination; check rotation in the agreed lubricated test assembly rather than judging a loose cone alone.

Steel and hardness: match material certificates and heat-treatment records to the batch, and check ring and roller hardness against the agreed specification.

Packing and traceability: check rust protection, component separation, batch identification and brand authenticity. Record arrival defects before stock is released; agree the method through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A cone designation alone can leave the wrong cup or assembled width in the shipment. Incorrect installed preload or endplay can cause heat and early wear even when the loose components look acceptable. Confirm the bearing combination and assembly instructions with the equipment designer.

Poor heat treatment can lead to early spalling; dirty raceways, handling dents and inadequate rust protection can spoil otherwise usable bearings. Keep suspect batches separate and compare defects with the approved sample and inspection records before accepting replacements.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.