New anti-dumping duties on Chinese boom lifts: What UK importers need to know

2 September 2026

UK importers of boom lifts from China are now facing new provisional anti-dumping duties following a decision by the UK Government to introduce measures to protect British producers from unfairly priced imports.

The measures came into force on 20 August 2026, following a recommendation from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), and apply provisional anti-dumping rates of between 16.25% and 71.74%, depending on the Chinese producer or exporter.

For businesses importing affected equipment, understanding whether goods fall within the scope of the measure – and which duty rate applies – is now particularly important.

What products are affected?

The measure applies to boom lifts originating from China that are designed to lift people, equipment or materials and have a maximum working height of six metres or more.

Boom lifts may also be known as cherry pickers, mobile access equipment, Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), aerial work platforms (AWPs) or elevating work platforms (EWPs).

The measure can also cover certain pre-assembled or ready-to-assemble sections of boom lifts, including booms, chassis, boom turrets or turntables, platforms and baskets.

However, not all lifting equipment is included. The measure excludes goods that do not meet the product description, including:

✔ Scissor lifts
✔ Forklifts
✔ Vertical mast lifts
✔ Mobile self-propelled cranes
✔ Certain motor vehicles incorporating a scissor-arm or boom assembly

Importers therefore need to consider both the commodity classification and the detailed product description when determining whether their goods are affected.

How much is the provisional anti-dumping duty?

The rate depends on the producer or exporter:

The Government notice also specifies the additional codes that must be used for the relevant producers and exporters.

This means identifying the manufacturer correctly can have a significant impact on the potential cost of an import.

What does the provisional measure mean for importers?

Importers of affected goods are required to provide a guarantee for the estimated anti-dumping duty applicable to their imports.

The guarantee can take the form of a bank guarantee, bond or cash deposit and is required during the provisional remedy, which can remain in place for up to six months from 20 August 2026 or until a definitive remedy is implemented, whichever is sooner.

The guaranteed amount only becomes payable if definitive measures are subsequently imposed.

If the definitive duty is lower than the provisional rate, only the lower amount will be collected. If the definitive duty is higher, only the amount secured under the provisional measure will be collected.

Documentation matters

Importers seeking to use the rate applicable to a specified Chinese producer or exporter must also pay close attention to the commercial invoice.

To qualify for the relevant exporter-specific rate, a valid commercial invoice containing the declaration specified by the Government must be presented to HMRC when the goods are imported.

If the required invoice is not presented or the declaration is not made, the residual duty rate applies – currently 71.74%.

This makes it particularly important for importers to confirm the identity of the producer and ensure the necessary documentation is in place before the goods arrive.

What should importers check?

Businesses importing boom lifts or related equipment from China should review:

✔ Whether the goods fall within the scope of the measure.
✔ The commodity code being used.
✔ The manufacturer or exporter of the goods.
✔ The anti-dumping rate applicable to that producer or exporter.
✔ The additional code required on the import declaration.
✔ Whether the commercial invoice contains the required declaration.
✔ How the required guarantee will be provided.

Importers should also be aware that imports of the goods had already been subject to registration by HMRC before the provisional measures were introduced. The Government's registration notice states that, if a definitive remedy is implemented, duties may potentially become payable on registered goods from a date up to 90 days before the provisional remedy was introduced, subject to the applicable regulations.

Why have the measures been introduced?

The TRA's investigation found provisionally that the goods concerned were being dumped in the UK and had caused or were causing injury to UK industry.

The Government accepted the TRA's recommendation to introduce provisional anti-dumping measures while the full investigation continues. The TRA will make a final recommendation to the Secretary of State before the investigation concludes.

For importers, the development demonstrates why monitoring trade remedies is an important part of customs compliance. Anti-dumping measures can significantly alter the landed cost of imported goods, and the applicable rate can depend not only on the product and commodity code but also on the producer or exporter.

Businesses importing affected boom lifts from China should review their classifications, suppliers, documentation and potential duty exposure to ensure the correct treatment is applied.

By Carla Assunção, Chamber International

Importing goods subject to anti-dumping or other trade measures? We can help you review commodity classifications, customs requirements and the measures that may apply to your imports. Speak to our team.

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