UK Global Tariff · commodity code · HS 8538.90
8538 90 91 89: Parts suitable for use solely or principally with: other, other, electronic assemblies, other, other
Other parts for switching and control apparatus
✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: UK Global Tariff · checked on 24 October 2026
- 8538 Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading 8535, 8536 or 8537
- 8538 90 00 00 Other
- Other
- 8538 90 91 00 Electronic assemblies
- Other
- 8538 90 91 89 Other
What you pay
Importing into UK
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 |
Footnotes
TN211 The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 impose trade restrictions on certain goo…
TN701 According to the Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2014 (OJ L183, p. 9), as retained in UK La…
The prohibition shall not apply in respect of:
(a) the execution until 26 September 2014, of trade contracts concluded before 25 June 2014, or of ancillary contracts necessary for the execution of such contracts, provided that the natural or legal persons, entity or body seeking to perform the contract have notified, at least 10 working days in advance, the activity or transaction to the competent authority of the Member State in which they are established.
(b) goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol which have been made available to the Ukrainian authorities for examination, for which compliance with the conditions conferring entitlement to preferential origin has been verified and for which a certificate of origin has been issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 and Regulation (EU) No 374/2014, as retained in UK Law, or in accordance with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
TN702 According to the Council Regulation (EU) No 1351/2014 (OJ L365, p. 46), the export of good…
(a) to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Crimea or Sevastopol, or
(b) for use in Crimea or Sevastopol.
The prohibitions shall be without prejudice to the execution until 21 March 2015 of an obligation arising from a contract concluded before 20 December 2014, or by ancillary contracts necessary for the execution of such contracts, provided that the competent authority has been informed at least five working days in advance.
When related to the use in Crimea or Sevastopol, the prohibitions do not apply where there are no reasonable grounds to determine that the goods and technology or the services are to be used in Crimea or Sevastopol.
UK: imports by month · HS 8538.90
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Germany | £75.2m | 13.8% | +1.3% |
 China | £58.2m | 10.7% | +19.9% |
 United States | £53.1m | 9.7% | +17.5% |
 Italy | £32.1m | 5.9% | +24.3% |
 France | £31.9m | 5.9% | +7.6% |
 India | £28.7m | 5.3% | -3.9% |
 Poland | £24.8m | 4.5% | +14% |
 Romania | £24m | 4.4% | +8.1% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
8538.90 Parts suitable for use solely or principally with: other
EU 1.7% – 3.2% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Türkiye 1.7% – 3.2% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 2.5% USA Free – 3.5% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · average 2.8% 
Canada Free Third-country duty 8 tariff lines 
Mexico Free Third-country duty 5 tariff lines 
Brazil Free – 16% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 8.9% 
Argentina Free – 16% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 8.9% 
Peru Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free – 5% Third-country duty 11 tariff lines · average 3.6% 
Japan Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 2% – 5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 3.3% 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 1.7% – 3.2% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Nigeria 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line UK lines: 8538.90
- 8538 90 11 00Parts suitable for use solely or principally with: other, for wafer probers, electronic assemblies
- 8538 90 19 00Parts suitable for use solely or principally with: other, for wafer probers, other
- 8538 90 91 10For use in certain types of aircraft
- 8538 90 91 20Interior antenna for a car door locking system, comprising: - an antenna module in a plastic housing, - whether or not a connection cable with a plug, - whether or not a connector, - at least one mounting bracket, - whether or not pcb including integrated circuits, diodes and transistors, for use in the manufacture of goods of chapter 87
- 8538 90 91 89Parts suitable for use solely or principally with: other, other, electronic assemblies, other, other
- 8538 90 99 10For use in certain types of aircraft
- 8538 90 99 50Interior antenna for a car door locking system, comprising: - an antenna module in a plastic housing, - whether or not a connection cable with a plug, - whether or not a connector, - at least one mounting bracket, - whether or not pcb including integrated circuits, diodes and transistors, for use in the manufacture of goods of chapter 87
- 8538 90 99 60Front control panel, in the form of a plastic box, with light guides, rotary switches, pressure switches and buttons switches, or other type of switches, without any electrical component, of a kind used in the dashboard of motor vehicles of chapter 87
- 8538 90 99 70Silicone or plastic keyboards, comprising: -parts of common metal, and -whether or not comprising parts of plastic, -epoxy resin reinforced with fiberglass or wood, -whether or not printed or surface-treated, -with or without electrical conductors, -with or without a membrane bonded to the keyboard, -with or without mono or multilayer protective film
- 8538 90 99 99Parts suitable for use solely or principally with: other, other, other, other, other
Binding rulings for similar goods
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- N344462 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of an electrical connector cap from China
- N343024 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of conduit connector from China
- N339672 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of from an electrical enclosure from China
- N328441 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) from China.
- 600015005 HMRC
Printed Circuit Assembly for various models of robotic mowers. Robotic mower nose module assembly which serves as a multifunctional interface for the robotic mower. Its primary purposes include: • Connecting to radar for object detection and navigation. • Interface for external accessories,…
- 600013696 HMRC
This component is a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Console Assembly, designed to display the mower’s settings and operating modes, transmit user commands (e.g. start, stop, mode selection) to the mower’s internal systems. It works by the encoder and/or push-button allow the user to interact with…
- 600013690 HMRC
This component is the main control board (PCBA) for a robotic lawn mower. It is responsible for controlling and coordinating all mower operations, including motor control, navigation, battery management, and safety systems and interfacing with sensors (e.g. collision, lift, tilt, magnetic) and…
- 600013251 HMRC
A part of a control system of components which are intended for lawnmowers (not subject to the ATaR decision.) However the Part is only suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading(s) 8535, 8536 or 8537. The HMI board displays settings and operating modes, transmitting user…
36 rulings in total for this code
Legal notes
In the UK Global Tariff, 8538 90 91 89 is one of 10 lines under subheading 8538.90, parts suitable for use solely or principally with: other.
The third-country duty is free.
Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard Free; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported other parts for switching and control apparatus (HS 8538.90) worth £544.9m (up 11% on the year before), at an average of £42.67 per kg; Germany supplied 14%, followed by China.
For the same subheading, the EU duty is 1.7%–3.2%, the Türkiye duty is 1.7%–3.2%, the US duty is 0%–3.5%, the Canada duty is free, the Mexico duty is free, the Brazil duty is 0%–16%, the Argentina duty is 0%–16%, the Peru duty is free, the New Zealand duty is 0%–5%, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is 2%–5%, the GCC duty is 5%, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is 1.7%–3.2% and the Nigeria duty is 5%.
The UK imported goods of subheading 8538.90 worth US$573m in 2024; the largest supplier was Germany.
Questions and answers
What is the UK import duty for commodity code 8538 90 91 89?
The third-country duty in the UK Global Tariff is free. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which countries get a lower rate on 8538 90 91 89?
174 countries have a preferential rate on this line, 174 of them at 0%, under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union and DCTS Enhanced and other arrangements. The rate applies only to goods that meet the rules of origin of the agreement, with proof of origin. Choose the country of origin on this page to see its rate.
Do anti-dumping or other extra duties apply to 8538 90 91 89?
Additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. These are charged on top of the customs duty.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
For subheading 8538.90 as a whole, the largest supplier in 2024 was Germany (US$101m), followed by China.
Typical products
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.