Sourcing Tide Clocks from China
Tide clocks from China within heading 9105 pay UK duty of 2% to 4%: battery-powered models are electrically operated and pay 4%, while mechanical models pay 2%. Demonstrate product safety before sale and check the tide movement against the intended coastal location. Cambridge China Bridge sources tide clocks.
Tide clock duty: 2% or 4%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9105 covers other clocks, including the wall-clock and other-clock categories relevant to tide clocks. Battery quartz movements count as electrically operated. The tide dial alone does not determine the commodity code.
Goods from China pay 4% when electrically operated and 2% otherwise. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls and a DCMS cultural-goods export licence measure. Listed-species materials can need CITES permits; confirm the requirement for your China shipment with your customs broker.
Confirm the movement, wall or freestanding format and complete product specification using finding your commodity code. Read the wall and alarm clock guide for the wider heading and UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrically operated wall tide clocks | 9105 21 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Mechanical wall tide clocks | 9105 29 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Other electrically operated tide clocks | 9105 91 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Other mechanical tide clocks | 9105 99 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the tide movement and intended coastline
Specify a tide movement rather than an ordinary timekeeping movement behind a tide dial. Ask for its movement reference, operating cycle, adjustment method and stated limitations for the intended coastline. Agree dial wording, direction of rotation, high and low tide positions, hand clearance, case material, hanging arrangement and battery type.
Ask for instructions explaining initial setting against local tide tables, subsequent adjustment and the distinction between tide indication and any separate time display. Compare samples with local predictions before approving claims about accuracy. Request clear wording directing users to local tide information when planning coastal activities.
Product safety compliance should be demonstrated before sale. Confirm with the relevant authority whether electrically operated clocks bring waste electrical equipment obligations and whether supplied batteries bring battery producer obligations. Under hazardous-substance rules, individual products must show the importer's name or trademark and contactable address on the product or packaging. Agree the evidence and labels through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 battery-powered wall tide clocks under 9105 21 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,500. Duty at 4% is £260. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,760, so it is £1,352. Import taxes total £1,612; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £260 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Movement: check the fitted movement against the approved sample, measure its cycle against the agreed specification, test adjustment and check that the hand travels freely around the dial.
Local setting: follow the supplied instructions using tide information for the intended location, record differences across successive tides and check that tide and time controls are clearly distinguished.
Assembly: check dial alignment, high and low tide wording, hand clearance, battery contacts, compartment security, front-panel fit and hanging-fixing strength.
Arrival and packing: inspect for cracked fronts, bent hands, loose movements and moisture damage; confirm the instructions, importer identification and carton protection match the approved sample.
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What goes wrong
A tide dial can hide an ordinary clock movement. Other failures include reversed dial wording, slipping hands, inaccessible adjustment controls and instructions that never identify the intended location. A sample that matches a local high tide when first set may diverge later, so inspect performance across successive tides.
Treat cracked glazing, weak hanging fixings and corrosion around battery contacts as separate defects from tide accuracy. Keep the approved movement reference and dial artwork with the order, and require approval before the factory substitutes either.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on tide clocks from China?
For tide clocks within heading 9105, electrically operated models, including battery quartz models, pay 4%; mechanical models pay 2%. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Can I use an ordinary clock movement for a tide clock?
Specify a dedicated tide movement and its operating cycle. Check the fitted movement reference and measure the sample's cycle rather than approving the dial appearance alone.
Will a tide clock suit every UK coastal location?
Ask the supplier to state its location limitations. Set and compare a sample against local tide information across successive tides before approving accuracy claims.
Do battery-powered tide clocks bring recycling obligations?
Confirm with the relevant authority whether electrically operated clocks bring waste electrical equipment obligations and whether batteries supplied with the clocks also bring battery producer obligations.