The Trade Remedies Authority has published its initial
recommendation to impose a new anti-dumping measure on
imports of rutile titanium dioxide from China. The TRA has found
that rutile titanium dioxide is being dumped into the UK and that
there is an imminent threat of injury to the UK industry.
Rutile titanium dioxide is widely used as a whitening agent to
provide brightness, opacity, and durability in coatings,
plastics, paper and many other industrial and consumer products.
Findings
During its investigation, the TRA found that rutile titanium
dioxide is being dumped in the UK. The TRA has determined that
there is an imminent threat of injury to the UK production
industry.
Since the beginning of this investigation, imports of titanium
dioxide from China have increased significantly, with the volume
imported in May 2026 being over 299% of the volume imported in
May 2025 and this trend would be likely to continue if a trade
remedy measure were not imposed.
The increase in imports and the threat of injury to the UK
production industry is due largely to increased Chinese
production capacity and to trade remedy measures that have been
imposed on titanium dioxide in other jurisdictions, including the
European Union, Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia. Measures in these
jurisdictions have limited China's access to these markets and
have subsequently increased the attractiveness of export markets
currently without protection, such as the UK.
TRA Chief Executives Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez
said:
Our investigation has found that the UK's titanium dioxide
production industry faces a real and immediate threat from dumped
imports from China. The measure that we have proposed today will
help to protect this key UK industry that employs over 570
people, contributes millions to the country's economy and
supplies hundreds of downstream UK businesses.
The TRA has now published its intended recommendation, proposing
that a mixed anti-dumping duty should be applied on titanium
dioxide for a period of five years. The rates of such duties
would be as follows:
- Cooperating, sampled exporters: 48.29% ad valorum, with a
minimum of £0.665 per kg;
- Cooperating, non-sampled exporters: 48.29% ad valorum, with a
minimum of £0.665 per kg;
- All other overseas exporters: 63.66% ad valorum, with a
minimum of £0.876 per kg.
An ad valorem duty is a measure that is based on a percentage of
the value of the goods. In this case, the TRA has proposed a
mixed duty a combination of ad valorem and a specific duty to
maximise the duty's effectiveness. Which duty applies in this
instance depends on which generates the most tariff revenue.
Further
information on the forms different tariffs take can be found on
the TRA's blog.
Interested parties have until 26 October to comment on these
initial findings and can do so via the TRA's Trade
Remedies Service. The TRA will then make its final
recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business,
Innovation, Science and Trade.
Background information:
- The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates
whether new trade remedies are needed to counter unfair import
practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
- The TRA is an arm's length body of the Department for
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
- UK producers who would like to know more about the options
available to protect their industry from unfair international
trading practices should contact our Advisory Service.
Email: contact@traderemedies.gov.uk
- The period of investigation for this case was 1 January 2025
to 31 December 2025.
