Tariffs imposed on Chinese cherry picker imports to defend UK sector

The government has imposed anti-dumping tariffs on imports of cherry pickers from China to support UK producers.

The measures came into force last month following an investigation by the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) an arm’s-length body of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

The TRA probe found that UK manufacturers face growing pressure from imports being sold at artificially low prices. This followed an application late last year by Milton Keynes-based boom lift producer Niftylift.

The TRA has found evidence that boom lifts originating from China were being dumped and impacting the UK market, and that provisional measures were appropriate and in the UK’s economic interest. 

The measures are an anti-dumping duty ranging from 16.25% to 71.74% applied to imports of the goods from Chinese producers. Duties will be applied for up to six months or “until a definitive remedy is implemented”, the TRA said. It added that it would continue its full investigation while these provisional measures are in place.  

TRA joint chief executives Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez said: “In line with the TRA’s mission to defend UK economic interests and our ambition to be more agile, assertive and accessible, we have acted swiftly to protect UK producers from unfair trade competition. 

“Boom lifts play a key role across the country in construction of all types, including in maintaining football stadiums.”