Anti-Dumping Duty in the UK: What It Is and Which Products Are Affected
Published 17 February 2026 · 5 min read
For most UK importers, the standard UKGT duty rate is the only tariff that applies to their goods. But for a specific set of product categories from specific countries, an additional charge sits on top — anti-dumping duty. This can add 10–30% or more to the landed cost of affected goods, and it catches importers off guard precisely because it doesn't appear in basic commodity code lookups unless you know to check for it.
What Anti-Dumping Duty Is
Anti-dumping duty is an additional tariff imposed when goods are exported to the UK at a price below their "normal value" — typically defined as the price at which they are sold in the exporting country's domestic market. When foreign goods are sold at artificially low prices to undercut UK producers, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) can investigate and recommend anti-dumping measures. If confirmed, HMRC applies a specific additional duty rate on top of the standard UKGT rate.
The purpose is to level the playing field for UK domestic producers against imports that are priced below cost or subsidised in ways that distort competition. Anti-dumping measures are governed by WTO rules and are country- and product-specific — they don't apply to all imports of a product type, only to imports from the specific countries where dumping has been found.
How the UK Sets Anti-Dumping Measures
Post-Brexit, the UK operates its own trade remedy system through the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), which inherited and reviewed the EU's anti-dumping measures that were in force when the UK left the EU. The TRA investigates complaints from UK industry, conducts formal reviews of existing measures, and recommends whether to apply, extend, or revoke anti-dumping duties. Final decisions are made by the Secretary of State.
Anti-dumping measures are reviewed periodically and can be extended, amended, or removed. This means the rate that applies today may not be the rate that applies in two years — an important consideration when building pricing models for products in affected categories.
Key Products Currently Subject to Anti-Dumping Duty
The range of goods subject to UK anti-dumping measures is narrower than many importers fear, but includes some very significant categories:
- Steel products from China and other countries: this is the largest category. Hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel, certain steel tubes, stainless steel products, and other steel forms from China face anti-dumping rates that can reach 20–35% on top of the standard duty. Rates vary significantly by product sub-type and are exporter-specific in some cases.
- Ceramic tiles from China: UK anti-dumping measures apply to certain ceramic floor and wall tiles originating in China. Rates vary but can be significant for importers in the construction or interior design sectors.
- Bicycles from China: a long-standing anti-dumping measure — bicycles from China have faced anti-dumping duties in both the UK and EU for many years. Importers of bicycles, e-bikes, and cycle components from China should verify current rates before ordering.
- Solar panels and modules: photovoltaic panels from China are subject to anti-dumping measures in some forms, though this area has evolved significantly post-Brexit as UK energy policy has developed.
- Certain chemical products: including some fibres, resins, and industrial chemicals from specific countries.
- Optical fibre cables: certain optical fibre cables from China are subject to anti-dumping measures.
A Worked Example
A UK engineering company imports £5,000 of seamless steel tubes from China for use in industrial machinery.
Worked example — steel tubes from China (with anti-dumping duty)
Goods value: £5,000
Shipping: £200
Customs value (CIF): £5,200
Standard UKGT duty (0% for these steel tubes): £0
Anti-dumping duty (25.1% on £5,200): £1,305
Import VAT (20% on £6,505): £1,301
Customs handling: ~£50
Total landed cost: ~£7,856 vs ~£6,501 without anti-dumping duty
The anti-dumping duty adds over £1,300 to a £5,000 order — a 26% increase in the landed cost that would not be apparent from looking at the standard UKGT rate alone (which is 0% for this product). This is why checking for additional measures is essential before placing significant orders in affected categories.
How to Check If Anti-Dumping Duty Applies
The UK Trade Tariff online tool displays all applicable duties — including anti-dumping and countervailing duties — for any commodity code and country of origin combination. When you look up a commodity code, the tool shows not just the standard UKGT rate but also any additional measures that apply to imports from specific countries. These are listed under "measures" for the relevant commodity code.
The key step is to look up your specific commodity code and confirm the origin country before placing a large order. Don't rely on a supplier quoting you the standard duty rate — check the Trade Tariff yourself, or use ClearDuty which applies all applicable measures for your commodity code and origin. The full guide to UK import duty calculation covers how all the cost components — standard duty, anti-dumping duty, import VAT — interact in the total landed cost. Getting the correct commodity code is particularly important for anti-dumping checks because measures can apply to narrow sub-headings within a broader category.
Check your full import duty including anti-dumping measures
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