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UK Trade Tariff API Commodity Lookup URL Builder

Commodity codes drive duty, import VAT treatment and licence checks on every UK import. The Trade Tariff API lets your ERP or a script look up a code and its measures instead of copying them from a web page.

Fill in

uk is the UK Global Tariff; xi is the Northern Ireland tariff.

10 digits for commodities, 4 for headings, 2 for chapters.

Returns the tariff valid on that date.

Generated code
Download:

Request URL

GET https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/uk/api/v2/commodities/8536694000?as_of=2026-10-20
Accept: application/json

curl

curl -s -H "Accept: application/json" "https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/uk/api/v2/commodities/8536694000?as_of=2026-10-20"

Python

import requests

url = "https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/uk/api/v2/commodities/8536694000"
resp = requests.get(url, params=[("as_of", "2026-10-20")], headers=[("Accept", "application/json")], timeout=30)
resp.raise_for_status()
doc = resp.json()
print(doc["data"]["attributes"].get("description"))

The Trade Tariff API is a public service and its paths and response shape can change; confirm against the current GOV.UK developer documentation. Use the 10 digit commodity code that your declarant will use, and cache responses rather than calling the API for every order line. This tool builds the request only and does not give a binding classification.

Validate commodity codes across your item master

Optional: we can outline a scheduled tariff check for your ERP item records.

Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.

How to use the builder

Pick the UK or Northern Ireland service, the level you want and the code. For a full duty and measures view use the commodities level with the complete 10 digit code. Headings (4 digits) and chapters (2 digits) are useful for browsing the structure and checking that a code you hold in the item master still exists. Set the as-of date to the date of import or the planned date so you see the tariff that applies then. Copy the raw request, the curl command or the Python snippet into your tooling.

  • Use commodities for duty and measures on a specific code.
  • Use headings or chapters to browse down to a valid code.
  • Use the as-of date to check a past or future rate.

What the response contains

The JSON document follows the JSON:API style. The data node holds attributes such as the goods nomenclature item id, description and whether the code is declarable. The included array carries the import measures, such as third country duty, VAT, and any controls, along with the duty expressions and geographical areas they apply to. A code that is not declarable is a grouping node, and you must go further down the tree to find a 10 digit declarable code. Always check the included measures for preferential rates by origin country rather than only the headline third country duty.

ERP uses and common mistakes

Typical uses are a nightly job that validates the commodity code on every active item against the live tariff, flags codes that were closed or split, and loads the third country duty into a landed cost model. Common mistakes are storing only 8 digits, ignoring the as-of date during tariff changes, mixing the UK and Northern Ireland services, and treating an API lookup as a classification ruling. If the classification is uncertain, a binding tariff information request is the formal route. Keep the code, the lookup date and the source in the item record so the decision can be explained later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the UK Trade Tariff API free?

The public Trade Tariff service is published by the UK government for general use without a charge. Rate limits and terms can change, so read the current developer documentation and cache results instead of querying on every transaction.

How many digits does a UK commodity code have?

Import declarations use a 10 digit commodity code, made of the 6 digit international HS code plus UK and TARIC level extensions. Exports and some statistical uses can use fewer digits, so confirm the requirement with your declarant.

What is the difference between the uk and xi service?

The uk service covers the UK Global Tariff for Great Britain. The xi service reflects the tariff and measures that apply for goods moving into Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. Use the one that matches the movement you are declaring.

Does an API result count as a binding classification?

No. The API returns the published tariff structure and measures. It does not decide which code your product belongs to. For certainty on classification, apply for a binding tariff information decision from HMRC.

If your item master carries commodity codes that nobody has validated in years, we can help build a scheduled check against the tariff with a review queue for your trade compliance team.

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