Anti-dumping duties are extra tariffs on foreign goods sold below market value — and they can blindside UK importers. Here's what you need to know before you place your next order.
In summary: Anti-dumping duties are additional import tariffs imposed by the UK government on goods sold into the UK at artificially low prices — typically below the cost of production. They can add anywhere from 10% to over 80% on top of standard customs duty, and apply to a surprisingly wide range of products imported from China and other countries. Most UK importers only discover them at the border. This post explains what they are, how to check if your product is affected, and what you can do to protect your margins.
Picture this: you've just placed your biggest order yet. Five thousand units of a new steel shelving system, manufactured in China, arriving at Felixstowe in six weeks. You've costed everything out beautifully. The margins look healthy. Your Amazon listing is drafted. Life is good.
Then your freight forwarder rings. "There's a problem at customs." Your product has been flagged for anti-dumping duties. The standard import duty you budgeted for is 3.5%. The actual duty owed, once anti-dumping measures are applied, is 48.5%.
That's not a typo. And unfortunately, it's not a hypothetical. I've seen exactly this happen to UK importers who were completely blindsided. Anti-dumping duties are one of the biggest hidden costs in the importing business — and the least talked about.
In international trade, "dumping" occurs when a manufacturer exports goods to another country at a price lower than the price they charge in their home market — or lower than the cost of production. It's a practice that governments and trade bodies view as unfair competition, because it can undercut domestic producers and distort markets.
The UK government (via HMRC and the Trade Remedies Authority) monitors for dumping across a wide range of product categories. When dumping is found to be causing injury to UK industry, they apply an anti-dumping duty (ADD) on top of the standard customs tariff.
These duties are not small. Anti-dumping rates commonly range from 10% to 80%+ depending on the product and the specific exporter. And crucially, they're applied per unit — so a high ADD on a high-volume order can completely wipe your profit margin.
"Anti-dumping duties are the import tax most British importers have never heard of — until the moment they wish they had." — TK Wang
Anti-dumping measures apply to specific products from specific countries — they're not blanket tariffs. The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) maintains a register of all active trade remedy measures, and it's updated regularly.
As of 2026, anti-dumping duties are active on a wide range of goods imported into the UK, including:
Metals and steel products — steel tubes and pipes, wire rod, cold-rolled flat steel, and more. If you're importing any kind of steel fabrication from China, check this carefully.
Ceramic and glass products — porcelain and ceramic tiles from China carry significant anti-dumping duties. Importers of homeware, bathroom fittings, and kitchenware should pay close attention.
Textile and clothing — certain yarn, fabric, and clothing categories have faced dumping investigations. The picture here is complex, and specific product codes matter enormously.
Paper and packaging — certain coated paper products and packaging materials have attracted anti-dumping attention in recent years.
This is not an exhaustive list — and the categories change as new investigations are opened and old measures expire. If your product falls into any of these broad areas, you need to check your specific commodity code. For a broader understanding of the true cost of importing, our complete guide to importing from China to the UK walks through every cost category you need to account for before placing your order.
Anti-dumping duties are calculated as a percentage of the customs value of your goods (the CIF value — cost, insurance, and freight). They're applied on top of standard import duty, not instead of it.
So your total import duty could look like this:
Standard customs duty: 3.5% of customs value
Anti-dumping duty: 45% of customs value
Total duty: 48.5% of customs value — before import VAT
In some cases, anti-dumping duties are calculated as a fixed amount per unit (e.g., £X per kilogram) rather than as a percentage. This is less common but equally important to understand when costing your landed price.
The rate that applies to your goods can also vary depending on the specific manufacturer or exporter you're buying from. Some exporters have individually assessed rates; others fall into a "country-wide" rate. This is why knowing your supplier matters — not just for quality, but for compliance.
Sourcing Hack #1: When you receive a quote from a Chinese supplier, always ask: "Has this product ever been subject to anti-dumping investigations in the UK or EU?" A reputable supplier will know. If they're vague or dismissive, that's a yellow flag. Cross-reference their answer with the UK Trade Remedies Authority database before committing to an order.
The good news: there's a clear process for checking. The not-so-good news: it requires knowing your product's commodity code (also called a tariff code or HS code).
Step 1 — Find your commodity code. Every product imported into the UK must be classified under a specific tariff code. You can look up your code using the UK Global Trade Tariff tool on GOV.UK.
Step 2 — Check the UK Trade Remedies Authority register. Search their public register of trade remedy measures for your commodity code. If an active anti-dumping measure exists for your product category and country of origin, you'll see it listed there.
Step 3 — Check HMRC's Tariff Tool. The UK Global Trade Tariff tool on GOV.UK also shows applicable duties (including anti-dumping measures) for any commodity code. Input your code and country of origin to see the full duty picture.
Step 4 — Ask your freight forwarder. A good UK freight forwarder will have experience with anti-dumping duties and can verify the applicable rates for your specific product and supplier. For deeper guidance on navigating the full UK import process, our post on importing from Alibaba to the UK covers the end-to-end journey including supplier vetting.
Sourcing Hack #2: Before placing any significant order, use the UK Trade Tariff tool to build a full duty model. Input: commodity code + country of origin + customs value = total duty estimate. Do this before you agree to a price, and again when reviewing your landed cost. Build the ADD into your unit economics from day one — not as an afterthought.
This is where things get expensive. If HMRC determines that your goods are subject to anti-dumping duties and you haven't paid them, you'll receive a customs demand for the additional duty owed — plus potential penalties and interest if there's been underpayment.
Customs holds your goods until the duty is paid. Depending on the value of the order and the ADD rate, that bill can be substantial. I've spoken to UK importers who've received five-figure customs demands they hadn't budgeted for. It's not a good day.
In some cases, the issue arises from mislabelled goods. A supplier in a country subject to anti-dumping might route goods through a third country — a practice called "circumvention" — to avoid the duty. UK customs takes a very dim view of this, and it's the importer, not the overseas supplier, who bears the legal and financial consequences. Our guide to safety checks before your first Alibaba purchase covers how to verify supplier legitimacy and identify circumvention risks.
Sometimes — but with important caveats. There are a few legitimate routes that experienced importers explore:
Work with an individually assessed exporter. In some anti-dumping measures, specific exporters have individually assessed rates lower than the country-wide rate. Your freight forwarder can help you identify whether your supplier qualifies.
Source from an alternative country. If ADD is making your China-sourced product unviable, it may be worth exploring Vietnam, Bangladesh, or India, where the same product might not be subject to UK anti-dumping measures. Many UK SMEs are now diversifying their sourcing for exactly this reason.
Reassess your commodity code classification. Anti-dumping duties are tied to specific commodity codes. If your product is genuinely classifiable under a different code that isn't subject to ADD, this may be a legitimate approach — but always get professional advice. Incorrect classification to evade duty is fraud.
Sourcing Hack #3: Vietnam is an increasingly viable alternative for many product categories that face anti-dumping duties from China. Furniture, textiles, footwear, and electronics components are areas where Vietnamese manufacturers have stepped up significantly. If ADD is squeezing your China margins, ask your sourcing agent to quote the same product from Vietnam. The saving may surprise you.
Amazon FBA sellers are particularly exposed to anti-dumping duty risks because competitive pressure on Amazon drives constant cost optimisation — and that often leads sellers straight into ADD-heavy product categories. Steel accessories, ceramics, tools, and textiles are all popular FBA categories that are also commonly subject to anti-dumping duties.
If you're building an Amazon FBA business, anti-dumping duty checking should be part of your standard product validation checklist. Read our companion guide on how to source products for Amazon FBA in the UK for the full picture on building a cost-effective, compliant supply chain.
One of the underrated benefits of working with a professional sourcing agent is that they already know which product categories are problematic. At Epic Sourcing, we factor trade remedy risk into our product evaluation process from the very first supplier conversation.
Whether you're importing on a white label basis or going deeper with a private label product, protecting your landed cost from unexpected duties is fundamental to building a sustainable importing business. We can help you check, model, and navigate these costs — so you're never caught off guard at customs.
Standard import duty (customs duty) is applied to all imports of a particular product category regardless of country of origin. Anti-dumping duty is an additional tax applied specifically to goods from countries where dumping has been confirmed. Both are charged together, which is why ADD can dramatically increase the total duty rate on affected products.
Use the UK Global Trade Tariff tool on GOV.UK. Input your commodity code and country of origin to see all applicable duties including any anti-dumping or countervailing measures. The UK Trade Remedies Authority also publishes a full register of active trade remedy measures at trade-remedies.service.gov.uk.
A reputable manufacturer should be aware if their product category has been subject to dumping investigations, but don't rely solely on their answer. Anti-dumping investigations are initiated by the importing country's government — not the exporting country — so suppliers may genuinely be unaware of the full picture. Always verify independently using UK government tools.
No. Anti-dumping duties are product-specific and exporter-specific. They apply only to particular commodity codes where the UK Trade Remedies Authority has confirmed that dumping is occurring and causing injury to UK industry. The vast majority of product categories from China are not subject to ADD.
HMRC will hold your goods and issue a demand for the unpaid duty. You'll need to pay the outstanding amount before your goods are released. In cases of deliberate misdeclaration, penalties and prosecution are possible. Working with a licensed customs broker or freight forwarder helps ensure your declarations are accurate from the start.
No. Anti-dumping measures are typically imposed for five years and then subject to review. The UK Trade Remedies Authority conducts "expiry reviews" to determine whether measures should be extended, amended, or revoked. Measures can also be suspended or terminated early if circumstances change. This means the ADD landscape can shift — so it's worth rechecking your product's status annually.
Navigating anti-dumping duties, commodity codes, and UK customs compliance is one of the less glamorous parts of product sourcing — but it's one of the most important. The importers who get it right from the start don't just avoid nasty surprises at customs; they build more resilient, more profitable businesses.
At Epic Sourcing, we've been helping UK businesses source from China and Vietnam for years. We don't just find you suppliers — we help you understand the full cost of your import, protect your margins, and navigate the compliance landscape so you can focus on building your brand.
Ready to source smarter? Book a free strategy call or drop us a line at hello@epicsourcing.co.uk — we'd love to help.
TK Wang, Founder & Director @ Epic Sourcing
