Anti-dumping goods from the UK – when you pay additional ADD duty and how to check

Anti-dumping duty (ADD) is one of those elements of customs clearance that can catch even experienced importers off guard. An importer orders goods from the UK, everything looks straightforward, and then several months after clearance they receive a letter from the customs authority demanding payment of tens of thousands of zloty in back duty. Why? Because their goods — bicycles, fasteners, solar panels, for example — were subject to anti-dumping measures they were unaware of. This article explains how ADD works in the context of imports from the UK into the EU, identifies the most common categories of goods subject to anti-dumping duty, and shows step by step how to check whether your goods are subject to ADD before placing an order.

What is anti-dumping duty (ADD) and why does it exist

Dumping in international trade occurs when a producer in one country exports goods at a price below their normal value (i.e. below the cost of production or below the domestic selling price). This is regarded as an unfair trade practice — it damages local producers, eliminates competition, and in the longer term can lead to the monopolisation of the import market.

Both the EU (through the European Commission) and the UK (through the Trade Remedies Authority — TRA) can impose ADD following an investigation:

1. Anti-dumping investigation — initiated at the request of European/British producers or on the authority's own initiative
2. Provisional measures — imposed during the investigation (may last up to 9 months)
3. Definitive ADD — imposed once the investigation is concluded, normally valid for 5 years
4. Review (sunset review) — after 5 years ADD may be extended or repealed

Key principle: ADD is linked to a specific HS code and a specific country of origin — not the country of dispatch. Goods from China dispatched via the UK remain subject to Chinese ADD in the EU if their origin has not changed.

ADD in the UK versus ADD in the EU — two separate systems

Since Brexit, the UK and EU operate independent anti-dumping measure regimes. This has direct consequences for importers:

Aspect	ADD in the EU	ADD in the UK
Issuing authority	European Commission	Trade Remedies Authority (TRA)
Legal basis	Regulation (EU) 2016/1036	Trade Remedies (Dumping and Subsidy) Act 2022
Database	TARIC (taric.ec.europa.eu)	UK Global Trade Tariff
Applies to imports	Into the EU from third countries	Into the UK from third countries
Relevant for an importer from the UK?	Yes, if the goods originate in a country subject to EU ADD	Separately — UK ADD does not automatically equal EU ADD

For an importer in Poland buying from the UK: what matters is EU ADD — whether the goods being imported into Poland are subject to EU anti-dumping duty. The fact that the UK does not impose ADD on a particular product is irrelevant from the perspective of importing into the EU.

Most common categories of goods subject to EU ADD when imported from the UK

Below is a summary of the most common goods categories where importers sourcing from the UK encounter anti-dumping measures. These duties are applied on the basis of the country of origin, not the country of export — goods from China dispatched via the UK may still be subject to ADD:

Category	HS code	Main ADD EU countries of origin	ADD rate
Bicycles	8712.00	China, Indonesia	48.5%
Solar panels (PV modules)	8541.40	China	Various (historically up to 64%)
Fasteners (bolts, nuts)	7318	China	85%
Aluminium rolled products	7606–7607	China	Up to 30%
Ceramic tiles	6907–6908	China	69.7–73%
Stainless steel (bars, wire)	7221, 7222	India, Indonesia	7–13%
Fibre optic cables	8544.70	China	13.8–22%
E-bikes (pedelecs)	8714.99	China	79.3%
Ferro-silicon	7202.21	China, Russia	Up to 31.2%
Wooden furniture	9403	China	9.8–22.9%

Note: the table is illustrative — anti-dumping measures are updated regularly. Always verify the current status in the TARIC database before purchasing.

How to check ADD in the TARIC database — step by step

TARIC (Integrated Tariff of the European Communities) is the official EU database of tariffs, trade measures and anti-dumping measures. Access it at: taric.ec.europa.eu

Step 1: Open taric.ec.europa.eu and select "Goods nomenclature" or "Measures"

Step 2: Enter the HS code of the goods (10-digit CN code, e.g. 8712.00.30.00 for bicycles)

Step 3: Select the country of origin (not the country of export — e.g. "China" for goods manufactured in China)

Step 4: Check the "Anti-dumping" or "Trade defence" column — active measures will be displayed with the regulation number, ADD rate and dates of application

Step 5: Click the regulation number — you will obtain full details of the measure, including the list of producers with individual rates or the residual rate

Alternatively: you can commission a verification from Easy Clearance — we will check both TARIC and the UK Global Trade Tariff before your customs clearance.

Producers with a price undertaking — a special exemption from ADD

Under certain anti-dumping measures, the European Commission accepts price undertakings from specific producers. The producer commits to selling goods at or above a defined Minimum Import Price (MIP) in exchange for exemption from ADD.

What this means for the importer: - If you purchase from a producer with an undertaking and the invoice price ≥ MIP → ADD does not apply - If the invoice price < MIP or the producer does not have an undertaking → ADD applies in full - An undertaking is tied to a specific producer — import ONLY from that producer

Example: Chinese bicycle manufacturer XYZ has an undertaking with a MIP of €430/unit. If the invoice issued by XYZ shows €450/unit → no ADD. If the price is €400/unit (e.g. due to a discount) → ADD of 48.5% on the full value applies.

Circumvention of anti-dumping measures — risk for the importer

Circumvention of ADD occurs when goods from a country subject to ADD are minimally processed or repacked in a third country (e.g. the UK, Malaysia, Thailand) in order to change the country of origin and avoid duty.

The EU conducts anti-circumvention investigations and may extend ADD to the transit or processing country. The most high-profile cases have involved bicycles from South-East Asia, solar panels from Taiwan, and fasteners from Malaysia.

Risk for importers sourcing from the UK: - If your UK supplier buys goods from China and merely repacks them → UK origin is not protected against ADD - HMRC may challenge the origin status and UK Border Force may decline to issue a certificate of origin - Polish customs authorities may conduct a verification of the actual country of manufacture

Protection: Request documentation of the UK production process from your supplier (bill of materials, invoices for UK raw materials, manufacturing process records). For large orders, consider commissioning a supplier audit.

How to calculate ADD — methodology

ADD is calculated on the customs value of the goods (CIF — Cost, Insurance, Freight), in the same way as standard customs duty. ADD is applied after standard import duty:

Calculation example: - Goods value (FOB): €10,000 - Freight and insurance to the EU border: €500 - Customs value (CIF): €10,500 - Standard duty (e.g. 2%): €210 - ADD (e.g. 48.5%): €5,092.50 - VAT 23% (on customs value + duty + ADD): approx. €3,634 - Total customs and tax costs: approx. €8,937 (vs. €210 without ADD)

It is clear that ADD can far exceed standard duty and fundamentally alter the commercial viability of an import.