The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has initiated an interim review into existing measures on imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware from China. Taxes, commonly referred to as anti-dumping duties, are routinely applied to lower-priced Chinese imports which harm local businesses.
Despite current duties (ranging between 13 – 36 per cent), the volume of imports from China has not decreased and imports have increased steadily (by 22 per cent) between 2023 and 2025. It is understood the TRA believe this pricing bares significant impact on the competitiveness of UK industries. The move has been met with caution from UK importers: “The TRA don’t appear to consider those importers are mostly British businesses and increasing duties just causes harm to those companies and ultimately it means higher prices for consumers who are already facing challenges,” one importer has argued. “Obscenely high energy costs pose the bigger threat to those few factories that can still afford to manufacture in the UK.”
Julian Hunt, MD of home and giftware supplier Lesser & Pavey, says: “For anyone who may not already be aware the UK government is reviewing the anti-dumping duty that is levied on ceramic tableware and kitchenware. We believe this to be totally unjustified and that the current level of up to 36.1 per cent is already far more than adequate to protect a manufacturing base in the UK that no longer exists. Some manufacturers also rely heavily on imports of blankware from China.
“The assertion made by the TRA that prices from China have decreased by up to 35 per cent in recent years is, we believe, simply not true. Since 2024 the Chinese government have reduced the tax rebates on exports from 13 per cent down to nine per cent and then as of 1 April 2026 down to zero per cent. This has been passed onto their customers everywhere in the world.”
Julian adds: “In addition Chinese manufacturers have been faced with increases in electricity, gas, raw materials and wages which have resulted in price increases. Any further increases in duty will result in significant price rises that could lead to job losses across the supply chain and at retail could at worst double current retail prices. We would therefore urge anyone involved in this sector to register and present a strong argument against these proposed measures.”
Gemma Sault, MD of the Home & Gift Association says her organisation “absolutely recognises the importance of supporting a fair and competitive environment for UK manufacturers, but it is equally important that the experiences and challenges of importers, distributors, retailers and brands are fully understood as part of the conversation.”
She continues: “Businesses across our sector are already navigating a complex and challenging trading environment. Any increase in duties has the potential to add further cost pressures throughout the supply chain, which could impact product availability, consumer choice and affordability. That’s why it is vital that the review considers the wider impact on the entire home and gift ecosystem, not just individual areas of the supply chain in isolation.
“The Home & Gift Association will be registering its interest in the investigation and working closely with members to gather feedback, share updates and ensure industry perspectives are represented wherever possible. We would strongly encourage any business involved in the manufacture, sourcing, import or sale of ceramic tableware and kitchenware to engage with the process.”
In a statement, the TRA’s co-chief executives Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez say: “The TRA is initiating an interim review in response to evidence of continued dumping from China. The TRA’s responsiveness to the change in market circumstances is just one example of how it is meeting the Government’s strategic steer for a more accessible, assertive and agile trade remedies system.”
Businesses that may be affected by this investigation can register their interest on the investigation’s public file by 4 August 2026.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/trade-remedies-authority
