Sourcing weathering steel plate from China
For weathering steel plate qualifying under heading 7208, UK duty on Chinese goods ranges from 0% to 50%, before trade remedies. Check the mill chemistry first: the name and rust colour do not establish non-alloy classification. Cambridge China Bridge sources weathering steel plate.
Plate classification, duty and trade remedies
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 7208 covers hot-rolled flat products of iron or non-alloy steel, at least 600 mm wide, not clad, plated or coated. This guide concerns weathering plate that qualifies for that heading. Check the mill chemistry against the tariff's alloy criteria before using the table. For material classified as alloy steel, see our alloy steel sheet and coil guide.
The selected Chinese-origin lines show ordinary duty of 0% to 50%. The thick non-alloy plate lines and wide medium-thickness non-alloy plate line carry residual anti-dumping duty of 73.70%. The narrower medium-thickness line shows 0.00% residual anti-dumping and 35.90% residual countervailing duty. Steel-measure lines face 50% outside quota. No suspensions or attached import controls are recorded for these selected lines. These rates are separate entries, not a single combined tariff.
Ask your broker to confirm the commodity code, applicable producer rate and any quota claim from the chemistry, dimensions and processing history before shipment. The table describes hot-rolled plate supplied outside coils. Wider heading coverage is in our hot-rolled steel guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-alloy plate, excluding tool steel, thicker than 15 mm | 7208 51 20 10 | 50% outside quota | 73.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Non-alloy plate, over 10 mm to 15 mm thick, width below 2 050 mm | 7208 51 98 10 | 50% outside quota | 73.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Non-alloy plate, excluding tool steel, 4,75 to 10 mm thick, width at least 2 050 mm | 7208 52 91 10 | 0% | 73.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Other rectangular plate, 4,75 to 10 mm thick, width below 2 050 mm | 7208 52 99 00 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
Specify the grade, plate geometry and patina
Order by the full weathering grade and product specification, not by a photograph of rusty steel. Agree chemical composition, delivery condition, mechanical properties, thickness and flatness tolerances, edge condition and the cutting drawing. Ask for mill inspection certificates linking each plate to its heat number. For welded or load-bearing work, have the designer specify the material and testing needed for the application.
State whether the plate should arrive with mill scale, blast-cleaned or with an agreed patina treatment. Approve a surface sample and agree how colour variation, loose rust and runoff staining will be assessed. Discuss drainage, trapped moisture and exposure with the designer. For construction use, ask your compliance adviser to identify the applicable standard, performance documentation and marking route. CE marking remains available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of rectangular weathering steel plate confirmed as non-alloy under 7208 52 91 10, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,000, so it is £4,000. 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
Identity: match plate markings and heat numbers to the mill certificates; compare the reported chemistry with the ordered weathering grade.
Dimensions: measure thickness, width, length and flatness against the drawing; inspect cut edges, burrs and distortion.
Surface: compare the finish with the approved sample; check for deep pitting, loose scale, scratches and uneven treatment.
Arrival: photograph wet packing, water trapped between plates and damaged edges before unloading; preserve batch identity through storage. Use an agreed inspection checklist.
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What goes wrong
Ordinary steel can be supplied with a rusted surface that resembles weathering plate. A generic certificate or one belonging to another heat leaves the grade unproven. Do not accept appearance as material identification: reconcile the heat records and arrange independent chemistry testing where the documents or markings do not agree.
Uneven patina, runoff staining, persistent wet contact and cutting distortion can make otherwise usable plate unsuitable for the intended design. Another failure is applying a heading 7208 rate before checking whether the chemistry qualifies as non-alloy steel. Resolve the material specification and classification before placing the order.
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 weathering steel plate from China?
For plate qualifying under heading 7208, the selected lines show 0% to 50% ordinary duty. Some also show 73.70% residual anti-dumping duty or 35.90% residual countervailing duty. Confirm the exact line and quota position.
Does weathering steel plate always belong in heading 7208?
Check the mill chemistry against the alloy criteria first. This guide's rates apply only to plate qualifying as iron or non-alloy steel under that heading; the weathering description alone does not establish classification.
How do I check that rusty plate is weathering steel?
Match the plate's heat number to its mill certificate and check the chemistry against the ordered grade. Rust colour alone proves neither the grade nor its performance. Use independent testing if the records do not agree.
Can CE-marked weathering plate be sold for construction use in Great Britain?
CE marking remains available for construction products in Great Britain. Ask your adviser to check the intended use, applicable product standard and supporting performance documents before accepting the supplier's marking.