UK truck tyre tariff decision slated for October

In May 2022, European Union anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs were annulled. Then a new investigation began. Now new final determinations have been made, but what does this mean in the UK?

Roughly a month after the original tariffs were annulled, in June 2022 we reported that the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) didn’t intend to annul the tariffs since the ECJ’s judgement does not apply legally in the UK, even considering the view that the tariffs were implemented improperly under EC law.

That means that while the UK initially implemented the original tariffs, we didn’t actually annul them. Something similar applies to the new ruling. Tyres & Accessories understands UK tariff policy has been independent of EU policy since the European Court of Justice ruling. As a result, the UK will review its policy regarding Chinese truck tyres in due course and there is no intention to unquestioningly go along with the EU.

The Trade Remedies Authority website says enquiries typically take a year or more, so it is likely that we will have un-amended tariff rates in the UK for some time. However, two separate sources told T&A that a Trade Remedies Authority decision is expected during the next six months. And that means all eyes are on October. However, while that is the Trade Remedies Authority’s intention, the wheels of international trade regulation don’t always move as smoothly and so neither would it be a surprise if there was a delay.