Sourcing security chains from China

Duty on welded-link security chain

Heading 7315 covers chain and parts of iron or steel. Welded-steel security chain falls within the other welded-link chain description, code 7315 82 00 00. The table shows product variants sharing that tariff line. For other chain types, see the steel chain guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China under this line. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual construction and supplied components before shipment. Send your customs broker photographs, link details, sleeve material and a description of any padlock supplied with the chain.

Specify the chain, weld and lock interface

Specify steel composition, link section and dimensions, finished length, welding process, heat treatment and surface finish. Agree hardness checks on both the link body and weld area, together with sample breaking tests. Define the padlock shackle and end-link opening together, and approve a sample with the intended lock fitted.

Consumer-use chains sold in Great Britain must be safe under normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Producers must provide relevant information about risks that are not immediately obvious and precautions against them. Where reasonable, the product or packaging must identify the producer’s name and address and the product reference or batch. Agree these details before printing packaging.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 12 tonnes of welded-steel security chain under 7315 82 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £23,400, so it is £4,680. 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

Links and welds: measure link section, openings and finished length; inspect beneath the sleeve for cracks, incomplete welds, sharp edges and distorted links.

Heat treatment and performance: match material and treatment records to the batch; check agreed hardness and breaking-test results. Agree separate cutting tests for any claimed resistance to cutting tools through testing and certification.

Lock fit and protection: fit the intended padlock, thread the end link as designed and check that the sleeve stays in place without obstructing closure or hiding damage.

Arrival and traceability: check for rust, coating damage and split packaging; match product references and batch details to inspection records and retain representative samples.

What goes wrong

A thick-looking chain can still fail at a poorly fused weld or have inconsistent heat treatment. A breaking-test result alone does not establish resistance to cutting tools. Compare production samples with the approved sample and test the actual finished chain, including its welds.

Sleeves can hide corrosion, sharp welds and substituted links. An end link may accept the shackle but prevent the lock closing properly. Check the complete chain-and-lock arrangement before shipment and on arrival. Keep the intended use as security; if the chain is to be sold for lifting, confirm the applicable machinery supply requirements with HSE or the relevant market surveillance authority, using the wider steel chain guide as background.

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.