Sourcing windscreen wiper blades from China

Duty on replacement wiper blades

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026, heading 8512 covers vehicle lighting and signalling equipment, windscreen wipers, defrosters, demisters and their parts. Replacement blade assemblies are considered here under the other-parts line, 8512 90 90 00. The table shows blade styles sharing that code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied tariff record gives 2% duty for Chinese-origin goods under this parts code, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Complete wiper equipment has a separate line. Suspensions elsewhere in the heading describe other goods and do not provide relief for ordinary replacement blades.

Give your customs broker photographs, the blade construction and whether the shipment contains blades alone or complete wiper equipment. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. See the vehicle lights and horns guide for the wider heading.

Blade length, arm adapters and screen contact

Specify vehicle model and production period, driving position, blade position, overall length, arm connection and adapter drawing. State whether you want framed, flat or hybrid blades, and agree the rubber compound, wiping-edge profile, spoiler orientation and protective packaging. Approve fitted samples rather than relying on a supplier's vehicle list.

Confirm applicable consumer product safety requirements with the relevant authority before selling in the UK. Keep the approved specification, fitting instructions and sample test results together. Test the blade on the intended wet windscreen for contact, clearance, streaking and chatter, including the ends of the sweep.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 replacement windscreen wiper blades, illustrative only under 8512 90 90 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £43,000. Duty at 2% is £860. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £43,860, so it is £8,772. Import taxes total £9,632; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £860 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: check the supplied adapter locks onto the intended arm, the blade cannot slide free and the assembly clears the bonnet and adjacent blade throughout its sweep.

Wiping edge: inspect for cuts, moulding defects, twisting and damaged coating; wet-test samples for streaks, missed areas, squeaking and judder.

Construction: compare frame joints, spring curvature, end caps and spoiler direction with the approved sample; check for loose components and exposed sharp edges.

Packaging: check vehicle descriptions, blade positions and fitting instructions against the agreed specification, and inspect for crushed packs or bent blades. Arrange quality inspection around these checks.

What goes wrong

An adapter can appear to fit while its latch remains partly open. Incorrect spring curvature leaves unwiped patches, and a damaged rubber edge creates streaks even when the blade length is correct. Mixed adapters or swapped vehicle labels can turn an otherwise acceptable batch into returns.

Confirm the applicable windscreen-wiper rejection criteria with the relevant vehicle inspection authority. Treat fitted wiping tests as a purchasing check, and investigate failures before releasing stock. Compare returned blades with the retained sample to separate blade defects from worn arms or contaminated glass.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.