TRA proposes anti-dumping measures on ceramic tiles be kept
The TRA has published initial findings proposing an anti-dumping measure on ceramic tiles from China be kept.
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today (Monday 19 February) published initial findings proposing an anti-dumping measure on ceramic tiles from China be kept, except on certain larger subsets of the product that are not produced in the UK.
This measure was among those inherited from the EU system and has been in place for 12 years. The TRA conducted a transition review to establish whether it was still suitable for the UK’s needs.
In its Statement of Essential Facts (SEF), the TRA has proposed that the measure on ceramic tiles with a surface area of less than or equal to 3600cm2, with no tile edge greater than 600mm in length, be maintained for a further five years.
However, it has also proposed that the measure applying to large format ceramic tiles and ceramic panels be revoked as the TRA found no evidence of production of these types in the UK and there is no interchangeability in the end use of such tiles when compared with other ceramic tiles produced by the UK industry.
- A large format ceramic tile is defined as a ceramic tile with a surface area greater than 3600cm2, with no tile edge exceeding 1200mm.
- A ceramic panel is defined as a ceramic tile with a surface area exceeding 1m2, with any tile edge exceeding 1200mm.
The UK imported over £382 million worth of ceramic tiles in 2021, with 1.5% of these imports coming from China. Chinese imports of tiles to the UK currently face duty rates ranging from 14% to 70%.
Businesses that may be affected by these findings (such as importers or exporters of the products or UK producers of similar products) can submit comments to the TRA by 11 March 2024.
Notes to editors:
- The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
- Dumping occurs when goods are imported into a country and sold at a price that is below their normal value in their country of export.
- Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA is currently reviewing each one to check if it is suitable for UK needs.