Sourcing reinforcement mesh from China

Duty and classification for reinforcement mesh

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026, heading 7314 covers iron or steel wire cloth, grill, netting and fencing, and expanded metal. Ribbed welded reinforcement mesh falls under 7314 20 10 00 when its wire has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of 3 mm or more and its mesh area is 100 square centimetres or more.

The selected welded-mesh lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension, steel measure or attached import control on these lines. Import VAT is separate; see UK import duty and VAT.

Use the wire profile, maximum cross-sectional dimension, mesh area and finish to confirm the commodity code. The other welded-mesh rows describe alternative classifications, rather than interchangeable reinforcement specifications. For reinforcing bars supplied separately, see rebar and hot-rolled steel bars.

Specify wire grade, mesh geometry and certification

Specify steel fabric for concrete reinforcement to BS 4483, with reinforcing steel to BS 4449. Record the wire grade and rib profile, wire diameter in each direction, spacing, sheet dimensions, edge overhangs and dimensional tolerances. Agree any cut or bent shapes against drawings.

Contractors usually require third-party product certification of the mill and mesh maker. Agree the required certification before ordering and ask for mill certificates linked to the delivered bundles. For construction use, check whether a designated standard applies and whether a declaration of performance is needed.

For the Great Britain market, products not covered or not fully covered by a designated standard may be covered by a technical assessment document. Check the route for the actual product and intended use rather than relying on a generic supplier certificate.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 60 tonnes of welded steel reinforcement mesh under 7314 20 10 00, invoiced at £42,000 free on board, with £9,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £51,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £51,000, so it is £10,200. 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

Wire: measure diameter on several wires in each sampled sheet and match the grade and rib profile to the order and mill certificates.

Welds: check for missing or broken intersections and arrange weld shear testing against BS 4483. Match tensile test results to the supplied steel grade.

Geometry: measure spacing, sheet length, width, diagonals and edge overhangs. Check flatness and any cut or bent shapes against the drawings.

Traceability and packing: match bundle labels to mill certificates and the agreed third-party certification. Count sheets against the packing list and check straps, edge protection and handling damage.

What goes wrong

Undersized wire reduces strength, poorly fused welds break during handling, and sheets arrive out of square or bent. A correct sheet size does not establish that the wire grade or weld strength meets the order.

Untraceable certificates or certification that does not cover the supplying mill and mesh maker can lead to site rejection. Resolve document mismatches before dispatch, and protect bundled sheets against bending during transport.

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.