Sourcing wire mesh and fencing from China
Cloth, grill, netting and fencing of iron or steel wire from China, including reinforcement mesh, fence panels, chain-link, wire cloth and expanded metal, pays 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Reinforcement mesh for concrete is bought to British standards with third-party certification. Cambridge China Bridge sources wire mesh and fencing.
Welded mesh, reinforcement mesh, chain-link and welded fencing, woven wire cloth and expanded metal pay 0% UK duty from China. Standards and a worked example.
Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, woven cloth of stainless or other steel wire, welded grill, netting and fencing of heavy wire including ribbed reinforcement mesh, other welded fencing plated with zinc or not, other cloth, netting and fencing plated with zinc, coated with plastics or not, and expanded metal of heading 7314 carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Loose steel wire is in heading 7217, barbed wire in 7313, and fence posts and gates made of tube are usually in 7308; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven cloth of stainless steel, other | 7314 14 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Welded mesh of ribbed wire, heavy gauge | 7314 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Welded mesh, heavy gauge, other | 7314 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Other welded fencing, zinc-coated | 7314 31 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other netting and fencing, zinc-coated | 7314 41 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other netting and fencing, plastic-coated | 7314 42 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Expanded metal | 7314 50 00 00 | 0% | None |
Standards buyers expect
Steel fabric for concrete reinforcement in the UK is specified to BS 4483 with reinforcing steel to BS 4449, and contractors usually require third-party product certification of the mill and the mesh maker. Zinc coatings on fence wire are specified by coating class under BS EN 10244-2, and fencing systems to the relevant part of BS 1722. Ask for mill certificates, the coating weight and the certification that the buyer's specification requires.
Wire mesh used in construction may be a construction product where a designated standard applies, so check whether a declaration of performance is needed for the product and use.
Worked duty example
For a made-up shipment of 60 tonnes of welded reinforcement mesh under 7314 20 10 00, add the £9,000 of freight and insurance to the £42,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £51,000. Duty on welded reinforcement mesh is zero, leaving import VAT of £10,200, 20% of the customs value. For a VAT-registered buyer that is a cash-flow cost rather than a lasting one. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
What goes wrong
Mesh and fencing fail on wire gauge, welds and coating. Wire drawn below the stated diameter reduces strength, welds that are not fused break when panels are handled, and panels are cut out of square. Zinc coating thinner than the class ordered rusts within a few seasons, PVC coatings crack or peel in UV, and reinforcement mesh without traceable certification is rejected on site.
Measure wire diameter and mesh aperture on samples, shear-test welds, check panel dimensions and squareness, measure zinc coating weight or thickness and check PVC adhesion, and match mill certificates and labels to the bundles. Band panels on pallets with edge protection so they do not bend in the container.
Cambridge China Bridge sources reinforcement mesh, welded fence panels, chain-link, wire cloth and expanded metal, with standards, coatings and certification agreed before the order. Find out how we source building and fencing materials.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on welded mesh from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, welded mesh, fencing, wire cloth and expanded metal of heading 7314 carried 0% duty from China.
Which standard covers reinforcement mesh in the UK?
BS 4483 for steel fabric, with reinforcing steel to BS 4449, usually with third-party certification.
How is zinc coating on fence wire specified?
By coating class under BS EN 10244-2.
Where does barbed wire go?
Barbed wire is in heading 7313, not 7314.