UK anti-dumping duties can add 20–80% to your import costs. Here's what e-bike, solar panel, and tile importers need to know before their next shipment arrives at the border.
In summary: UK anti-dumping duties are additional import tariffs imposed when goods enter the UK at artificially low prices that undercut British industry. They currently affect categories including e-bikes, solar panels, and ceramic tiles — and can add anywhere from 20% to over 80% on top of standard customs duty. If you import any of these products from China, you need to understand how the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) system works before your next shipment arrives at the border.
Picture this. A British entrepreneur has spent months sourcing a fantastic range of electric bikes from a factory in Guangdong. The price is brilliant — substantially cheaper than anything from European suppliers. The samples are spot on. The MOQ is manageable. Everything looks rosy.
Then the shipment arrives at Felixstowe. And the customs bill is, shall we say, considerably higher than expected. Not because of standard import duty. Not because of VAT at 20%. But because of something called an anti-dumping duty — an additional tariff that had been quietly sitting in the UK trade remedy system the entire time.
This is not a hypothetical. It catches out UK importers every year, particularly those sourcing from China. With the UK now operating its own trade remedy system independently from the EU post-Brexit, the landscape has changed significantly. Here's what you need to know.
Anti-dumping duties are additional import tariffs applied by the UK government when imported goods are priced below their normal market value — a practice known as "dumping." The idea is that a foreign manufacturer sells products into the UK at artificially low prices (often subsidised by their government) to undercut domestic or UK-market suppliers and gain market share.
When the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) investigates and confirms that dumping is genuinely harming UK industry, it can recommend anti-dumping measures. These are applied on top of the standard UK Global Tariff rate and are specific to the country of origin — and sometimes to individual exporters within that country.
Since Brexit, the UK has managed its own trade remedy system separately from the EU. While many EU measures were initially transitioned across, the UK now independently reviews, renews, and investigates cases — meaning the rules are evolving all the time. Checking the complete guide to importing from China to the UK is a good place to get the full picture of costs and compliance.
Sourcing Hack #1: Before committing to any new product category from China, check the UK Trade Tariff tool at trade.gov.uk and the TRA's public register of trade remedy measures. A five-minute check can save you from a five-figure surprise on your customs bill. Make it part of your standard product research process — as routine as checking the MOQ.
Anti-dumping duties currently cover a wide range of product categories in the UK. For importers sourcing from China, the following three are particularly important to understand right now.
This is arguably the most significant anti-dumping measure for UK eCommerce sellers right now. Electric bicycles from China have been subject to anti-dumping duties following concerns about manufacturers selling below cost. Critically, duty rates are exporter-specific — meaning two factories producing almost identical bikes can attract very different rates.
If you're sourcing e-bikes from China, you need your supplier's specific commodity code and their exporter-specific duty rate before you place an order. Some exporters have been granted lower or zero individual duty rates, while others attract a general rate that can make the business case for importing completely unviable.
The solar energy sector has seen significant trade remedy activity. Anti-dumping and countervailing measures have been applied to solar panels and related components from China, affecting commercial solar installers, importers, and anyone in the renewable energy supply chain. Given the rapid growth of the UK solar market in 2026, this is a category worth monitoring closely.
Ceramic tiles from China have been subject to anti-dumping duties following a transition of EU measures post-Brexit. This affects interior design businesses, home improvement retailers, and eCommerce sellers sourcing homeware from Chinese tile manufacturers. If you're in this space, you need to know your duty position before you commit to stock.
Beyond these three, anti-dumping measures also apply to certain steel and aluminium products, specific chemicals, glass fibre, and other industrial goods. If you're sourcing in a traditionally manufacturing-heavy category, a check is always worthwhile. You can also read our overview of importing from Alibaba to the UK for the broader costs and compliance picture when sourcing from China.
Sourcing Hack #2: Anti-dumping duties are often exporter-specific, not just country-specific. Always ask your supplier for their exact commodity code and their individual duty rate (if one exists). The difference between a factory with an individual undertaking and one on the general rate can be tens of thousands of pounds on a single shipment. Never assume — always verify with your freight forwarder or customs broker before placing a production order.
Anti-dumping duty rates in the UK range from a few percent to over 80%, depending on the product and country of origin. For e-bikes specifically, rates have ranged from around 9% to over 60% depending on the manufacturer. For ceramic tiles from China, duties have historically sat in the 36–73% range.
Add this to standard import duty, VAT at 20%, and freight costs, and you can see how quickly a seemingly bargain product becomes anything but. The duties are calculated on the customs value of the goods — typically the CIF value (cost, insurance, and freight to the UK border), not the retail price. On a £50,000 shipment of e-bikes, even a 30% anti-dumping duty adds £15,000 to your costs before a single unit is sold.
This is why understanding your full landed cost before committing to stock is essential. Our team at Epic Sourcing always models the complete cost of bringing product to market as part of our process — we don't just find you a factory, we help you understand whether the numbers actually work.
Sourcing Hack #3: Use this formula to calculate true landed cost from China: FOB price + international freight + UK import duty + anti-dumping duty (if applicable) + VAT at 20% + customs clearance fees. Work it out in GBP before you place your order. If your margin doesn't work at full landed cost, it doesn't work — full stop. No amount of optimism changes the maths.
Since leaving the EU's customs union, the UK has its own trade remedy system administered by the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). The TRA investigates complaints from UK industry about unfair trade practices — dumping and subsidies — and makes recommendations to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, who decides whether to impose, renew, or revoke measures.
Measures are typically time-limited (usually five years), after which the TRA conducts an expiry review to determine whether they should continue. This means the landscape can shift: duties that exist today may not exist in three years, and new duties can be added to categories that were previously clear. Staying current matters.
The TRA maintains a freely searchable public register of all current UK trade remedy measures at gov.uk. If you're importing significant volume from China in any category, make checking this register part of your annual sourcing review — just as you would review freight costs or supplier performance.
For UK importers, anti-dumping duties add a layer of strategic complexity that requires careful navigation. Knowing this, here's how smart importers are adjusting their approach.
Product selection matters more than ever. Some categories from China carry significant trade remedy risk; others are clear. Understanding which categories are affected should inform your sourcing strategy from the outset. Our White Label Package includes a full landed cost analysis as part of the supplier identification process — we help you understand the total cost of bringing product to market, not just the factory price.
Supplier selection is critical. Because anti-dumping duties can be exporter-specific, the factory you choose matters enormously. A supplier with a lower individual duty rate can mean the difference between a viable product and one that doesn't pencil out. This is why working with an experienced sourcing agent in China pays dividends — they know which factories have clean duty positions and which don't.
Vietnam as an alternative origin. For categories where Chinese goods attract significant anti-dumping duties, Vietnam-origin goods may not be subject to the same measures — or may attract substantially lower rates. Dual-sourcing strategies (China plus Vietnam) are becoming increasingly popular for exactly this reason. Our Private Label Package covers sourcing from both countries.
Sourcing Hack #4: If a product category from China is hit with high anti-dumping duties, check whether Vietnam, India, or other manufacturing hubs produce the same product. Trade remedy measures are country-specific, so shifting your sourcing origin can sometimes eliminate the duty entirely. Always verify with HMRC first though — some measures can be extended to new countries if circumvention is suspected, and you don't want to get caught in that net.
Here is a step-by-step process for any UK importer who wants to verify their duty position:
Step 1: Find the correct commodity code for your product using the UK Trade Tariff tool at trade.gov.uk. This 10-digit code is the foundation of everything — get it right.
Step 2: Look up the full duty rate for your commodity code and country of origin. The tariff tool shows standard duty rates as well as any additional measures (anti-dumping, countervailing, safeguard) that apply.
Step 3: Cross-reference with the TRA's public register to check for ongoing investigations or upcoming reviews that might change the rate before your shipment arrives.
Step 4: Ask your supplier for their specific exporter code and confirm their individual duty rate if one exists. This should appear on your commercial invoice at customs.
Step 5: Build the anti-dumping duty into your landed cost calculation before placing your order. If the numbers don't work with the full duty included, reconsider the product or the sourcing origin.
Our guide on safety checks before your first Alibaba purchase covers broader due diligence — including supplier verification and trade documentation — that complements this process nicely.
If you're sourcing in a category that carries significant anti-dumping duty risk, our Secret Label Package includes full compliance and customs advisory support. We work with experienced freight forwarders and customs brokers who understand how to correctly classify goods and ensure you're paying the right duty — no more, no less. Misclassification cuts both ways: overpaying erodes your margins, underpaying triggers penalties and seizures.
For more on reducing your cost of goods without cutting corners, our piece on how small businesses can cut costs by sourcing directly is well worth a read. And if you're building a brand in a category outside the affected duty zones — beauty and skincare, for example — check out our new post on Private Label Skincare & Beauty Manufacturing: Riding the Dupe-Culture Wave for a very different sourcing opportunity right now.
Standard import duty is applied to all goods of a particular commodity code when they enter the UK. Anti-dumping duty is an additional, targeted tariff applied specifically when goods from a particular country are found to be sold at unfairly low prices that damage UK industry. You pay both — anti-dumping duty is on top of, not instead of, the standard rate.
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) investigates complaints from UK industry about unfair trade practices and makes recommendations. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade makes the final decision on whether to apply, extend, or revoke measures. This process is entirely separate from the EU system — since Brexit, the UK manages its own trade remedy investigations independently.
No. When the UK left the EU's customs union, many EU measures were transitioned into UK law, but the UK has since conducted its own reviews. Some EU measures have been continued in modified form, some have been dropped, and new UK-only measures have been introduced. Always check the UK Trade Tariff rather than assuming EU rates apply to your goods.
Potentially, yes — anti-dumping duties are typically country-specific. If a product from China carries significant duties but the same product from Vietnam does not, shifting your sourcing origin can eliminate the duty. Be cautious of circumvention rules, however: HMRC can investigate whether goods are genuinely manufactured in the alternative origin country, not simply re-exported through it.
Measures are typically imposed for five years, after which the TRA conducts an expiry review. However, measures can be modified or extended during their term if circumstances change, and new measures can be introduced at any time following a complaint. It's sensible practice to check the TRA register annually for any product categories you regularly import from China.
The Epic Sourcing team works with experienced customs brokers and trade compliance specialists across all our service packages. Whether you're on the White Label, Private Label, or Secret Label package, we can help you understand the compliance landscape for your specific products. Get in touch at epicsourcing.co.uk/contact or email hello@epicsourcing.co.uk.
Anti-dumping duties are one of those things every UK importer needs to understand — but very few do until they get that first unexpected customs bill. The good news is that with the right knowledge and the right sourcing partner, they're entirely navigable.
At Epic Sourcing, our team works with UK businesses every day to ensure that products sourced from China and Vietnam make financial sense once every cost is factored in. We don't just find you a factory — we help you build a sourcing strategy that's compliant, cost-efficient, and built to scale.
Ready to talk? Book a call with our UK team at epicsourcing.co.uk/contact or email us at hello@epicsourcing.co.uk. We'd love to help you source smarter.
TK Wang, Founder & Director @ Epic Sourcing
