TRA upholds recommendation on imports of excavators from China
The TRA has published its final decision in the reconsideration of the recommendation to impose a new anti-dumping measure on imports of excavators from China.
The Trade Remedies Authority has today (22 December 2025) published its final decision in the reconsideration of the recommendation to impose a new anti-dumping measure on imports of excavators from China.
Reconsiderations are part of the process that parties can use to ask the TRA to look again at its decisions. You can read more about reconsiderations on the TRA’s website.
The TRA initiated this reconsideration following submissions received from LiuGong Group and Caterpillar Group requesting that the TRA reconsider its recommendation.
LiuGong claimed that battery electric machines should not be included within the definition of the goods and the tariff imposed. It asked for battery electric machines to be removed from the description of the goods and all related tariffs.
Caterpillar questioned the TRA’s calculation of the individual anti-dumping amount that was calculated for it as a sampled cooperating overseas exporter to the original investigation. It asked the TRA to recalculate the injury margin, dumping margin, injury and causal link determination and the form of the anti-dumping measures.
However, after carefully reviewing the grounds set out by both groups, the TRA is satisfied that there are no grounds to vary its original decision. The anti-dumping measure on imports of excavators from China will therefore remain in place as per the notice that came into effect on 14 May 2025.
About the TRA’s original recommendation
The TRA’s original anti-dumping investigation, which was undertaken in response to an application from JCB, assessed whether excavators imported from China were being dumped and therefore being sold in the UK at unfairly low prices.
The final recommended measure, which was accepted by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, imposed tariffs on imports of these goods ranging from 18.81% for a sampled exporter to 40.08% for the residual rate.
Background
- 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.
- The UK trade remedies regime is set by the Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act 2018 and the Trade Act 2021, which operationalise the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements covering trade remedies.
- Reconsiderations are part of the process that parties can use to ask the TRA to look again at its decisions. Many government departments, non-departmental public bodies and other government agencies (including decision-making bodies on taxation and benefits) provide for interested parties to request an internal reconsideration of a decision as part of their standard processes.
- For a reconsideration to be undertaken by the TRA, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Set out the grounds for their application.
- Explain the outcome they are looking for.
- Demonstrate that they are eligible to apply for a reconsideration of this decision.