Subheading · Chapter 85 · Heading 8545
8545.20: Carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery: brushes
Official description Brushes
Subheading 8545.20 belongs to heading 8545 (carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons and other…) in chapter 85.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 8545 20 00 00 Brushes Free
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 3
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 376
- Documents
- 9008
- Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1431
- Documents
- C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
- Duty suspensionAirworthiness tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2018/1249
- Documents
- C119 Authorised Release Certificate — EASA Form 1 (Appendix I to Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012), or equivalent certificate
Import requirements 2
- Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Russia, Ukraine
- Legal act
- 2023 No. 440, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9011
- 9022
- 9038
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | Free |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code "EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Andorra agreement | Andorra | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| DCTS Standard | Indonesia | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hungary | £3.1m | 25% | +43.8% |
 Sweden | £2m | 16.3% | +31.3% |
 Germany | £1.6m | 12.6% | +8.3% |
 France | £1.2m | 9.4% | -4.9% |
 United States | £993k | 8% | +2.5% |
 Romania | £719k | 5.8% | +27.1% |
 Belgium | £611k | 4.9% | +59.5% |
| United Kingdom | £413k | 3.3% | +206.2% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 2.7% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 2.7% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 10.8% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 10.8% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Japan 3.3% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 3.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$59kUS$59k+US$2m+US$18m+> US$59m
Exports: 133
- Germany: US$124m
- China: US$73m
- United States: US$66m
- Hungary: US$59m
- Japan: US$52m
- Austria: US$46m
- France: US$36m
- Sweden: US$23m
- Italy: US$23m
- Spain: US$21m
- Mexico: US$21m
- Romania: US$20m
- Thailand: US$18m
- South Korea: US$16m
- Czechia: US$10m
- Canada: US$10m
- Netherlands: US$9m
- United Kingdom: US$9m
- Taiwan: US$7m
- Belgium: US$6m
- Brazil: US$6m
- India: US$5m
- South Africa: US$5m
- Denmark: US$4m
- Slovakia: US$4m
- Switzerland: US$3m
- Türkiye: US$3m
- Vietnam: US$3m
- Slovenia: US$3m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
- Russia: US$2m
- Poland: US$2m
- Australia: US$1m
- Singapore: US$1m
- Malaysia: US$840k
- Finland: US$753k
- Serbia: US$554k
- Egypt: US$412k
- Philippines: US$386k
- Kazakhstan: US$340k
- Lithuania: US$333k
- Norway: US$332k
- Belarus: US$263k
- Israel: US$237k
- Bulgaria: US$235k
- Jordan: US$219k
- Ukraine: US$207k
- Indonesia: US$184k
- Ireland: US$166k
- Latvia: US$132k
- Colombia: US$121k
- Estonia: US$111k
- Luxembourg: US$100k
- Portugal: US$97k
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$92k
- Macao SAR China: US$89k
- Chile: US$81k
- United Arab Emirates: US$75k
- Zambia: US$66k
- Greece: US$63k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$281kUS$281k+US$2m+US$11m+> US$25m
Imports: 204
- United States: US$75m
- Germany: US$65m
- China: US$57m
- India: US$32m
- Mexico: US$26m
- Italy: US$25m
- France: US$21m
- Spain: US$20m
- Canada: US$18m
- Czechia: US$17m
- Poland: US$16m
- Brazil: US$16m
- Indonesia: US$16m
- United Kingdom: US$16m
- Hungary: US$16m
- Vietnam: US$14m
- Australia: US$12m
- Austria: US$12m
- Japan: US$12m
- Philippines: US$11m
- Netherlands: US$11m
- Romania: US$11m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$10m
- South Korea: US$10m
- Sweden: US$8m
- Slovenia: US$7m
- Thailand: US$7m
- Türkiye: US$7m
- Chile: US$6m
- Singapore: US$6m
- Switzerland: US$6m
- Belgium: US$6m
- United Arab Emirates: US$6m
- Denmark: US$5m
- Malaysia: US$5m
- Tunisia: US$4m
- Russia: US$4m
- Kazakhstan: US$4m
- Mozambique: US$3m
- Peru: US$3m
- South Africa: US$3m
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$3m
- Saudi Arabia: US$3m
- Argentina: US$3m
- Iran: US$3m
- Egypt: US$3m
- Morocco: US$3m
- Portugal: US$3m
- Taiwan: US$2m
- Finland: US$2m
- Serbia: US$2m
- Ukraine: US$2m
- Colombia: US$2m
- Israel: US$2m
- Norway: US$2m
- Algeria: US$2m
- Slovakia: US$2m
- Ireland: US$1m
- Bulgaria: US$1m
- Pakistan: US$1m
Import duty on this product around the world 165
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 5%median duty
- 43number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Maldives, Ethiopia
165
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 10% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 15% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 6.3% | 0% – 13% | 2023 |
 Aruba | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 6.3% | 0% – 13% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 10% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 10% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 10% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 20% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 20% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 20% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 China | 10% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 20% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 2% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 20% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 2.7% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 6% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 20% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
 India | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 10% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 3.3% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 |
 Kazakhstan | 13% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 10% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 6.3% | 0% – 13% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0.7%* | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 35% | 20% – 50% | 2023 |
 Mali | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 10% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 10% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 16% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 1% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 6.3% | 0% – 13% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Rwanda | 10% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 20% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 10% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 10% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 8% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 5% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0.7%* | 2023 | |
 Syria | 5% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 10% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 10% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 10% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 2.7% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 10% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 1% | 0% – 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 5% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 5% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 15% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 77886 Carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons & other carbon articles, with/without metal, of a kind used for electrical purposes
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 311220
- CPC 2.1 product
- 46950 Carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons and other articles of graphite or other carbon of a kind used for electrical purposes
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 2790 Manufacture of other electrical equipment
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8545.20 | changed |
| 2012 | 8545.20 | changed |
| 2007 | 8545.20 | changed |
| 2002 | 8545.20 | changed |
| 1996 | 8545.20 | changed |
| 1992 | 8545.20 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Tariff change
UK Trade Tariff: measure changes on 1015 commodity codes
Trade Tariff changes 2026-09-29 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
- Tariff change
UK Trade Tariff: measure changes on 103 commodity codes
Trade Tariff changes 2026-09-21 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
- Tariff change
Update to VATZ Coverage – 8 September 2026
Trade Tariff news 8315 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 8545.20; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 8545.20 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 2.7%.
174 countries pay no duty in the UK thanks to trade agreements and preference schemes such as DCTS Comprehensive and European Union, against a standard rate of Free.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £12.4m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 22% on the year before); Hungary supplied 25%, followed by Sweden.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$700m (+7.3% year on year).
The largest exporter was Germany (US$124m), followed by China.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery: brushes?
Carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery: brushes fall under HS subheading 8545.20, part of heading 8545, in section XVI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 8545.20 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 8545.20 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 2.7%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons…?
Germany, with US$124m in 2024 (17.6% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?
174 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of Free applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Is there anti-dumping duty on these goods?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Hungary (25%), Sweden (16%) and Germany (13%), out of total imports of £12.4m.