United Kingdom: the Trade Remedies Authority on 7 October 2026 proposed a five-year anti-dumping duty of 48.29% or 63.66%, with a per-kg minimum, on rutile titanium dioxide from China; comments close 26 October.
The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) on 7 October 2026 proposed a five-year anti-dumping duty on rutile titanium dioxide imported from China, with rates of 48.29% or 63.66% and a minimum charge per kilogram1.
The TRA is the UK body that investigates unfair import practices and sudden import surges1. Its proposal is not yet law. Interested parties can comment until 26 October, and the TRA will then send its final recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade1.
In short, Chinese white pigment for paint, plastics and paper may soon cost far more to bring into the UK. Every shipment from China is already being recorded by customs, so the final duty could reach some goods that arrive before it starts2.
What is the TRA proposing for titanium dioxide?
The TRA wants an anti-dumping duty, an extra import tax on goods sold abroad below their normal price1. It would apply for five years1.
Proposed anti-dumping duty by exporter group, % of value
The duty is a "mixed" duty. It combines a percentage of the value of the goods with a fixed charge per kilogram1. Customs would charge whichever of the two brings in more money1.
The proposed rates are these1:
- Cooperating, sampled exporters: 48.29% of the value, with a minimum of £0.665 per kg.
- Cooperating, non-sampled exporters: 48.29% of the value, with a minimum of £0.665 per kg.
- All other exporters: 63.66% of the value, with a minimum of £0.876 per kg.
"Cooperating" exporters are Chinese makers that answered the investigation. "Sampled" exporters are the smaller group the TRA examined in detail. Exporters that did not take part face the higher rate.
How does the mixed duty work on a shipment?
The percentage part is an "ad valorem" duty, which means it is based on the value of the goods1. The fixed part is a "specific" duty, a set amount for each kilogram. The TRA said it chose a mixed duty to make the duty more effective1.
In practice, the per-kilogram floor matters most when the declared price is low. At 48.29%, the percentage part only passes £0.665 per kg when the goods are worth more than about £1.38 per kg. Below that value, the importer pays the £0.665 floor. For the 63.66% rate, the same point is about £1.38 per kg against a floor of £0.876.
This design means a very cheap invoice price does not reduce the duty below the floor. The UK importer of record pays the duty when the goods clear customs.
Why did the TRA act against Chinese titanium dioxide?
The TRA found that rutile titanium dioxide from China is being dumped in the UK1. It also found an imminent threat of injury to UK producers, meaning serious harm is likely soon if nothing changes1.
Imports grew fast during the case. In May 2026, the volume of titanium dioxide imported from China was over 299% of the May 2025 volume1. The TRA said this trend would likely continue without a duty1.
The TRA gave two causes for the surge1:
- More production in China. Chinese makers have added capacity.
- Duties in other markets. The European Union, Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia have trade remedies on titanium dioxide, which limit China’s access and make the UK a more attractive outlet.
The TRA chief executives, Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez, said the UK industry employs over 570 people and supplies hundreds of UK businesses further down the chain1. The investigation covered sales from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 20251.
Which goods does the titanium dioxide case cover?
The case covers rutile titanium oxides in pigments, and preparations based on rutile titanium dioxide3. The goods must contain at least 80% titanium dioxide by weight, measured on the dry matter2. All particle sizes are included2.
The goods carry Chemical Abstracts Service numbers 12065-65-5 and 13463-67-72. These are standard identity numbers for chemicals.
Titanium dioxide is a white pigment. It gives brightness, opacity and durability to coatings, plastics, paper and many other products1.
The UK customs notice lists these commodity codes2:
- 2823 0000 10, 2823 0000 30, 2823 0000 80 and 2823 0000 83
- 3206 1100 10, 3206 1100 30, 3206 1100 80 and 3206 1100 85
Anatase and brookite, two other forms of titanium dioxide, are outside the case2. A code alone does not decide the matter: the form of the pigment does.
What must importers declare at the UK border now?
Since 27 March 2026, HMRC, the UK tax and customs authority, has registered every import of the goods from China2. The Secretary of State ordered this under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 20182. The UK online tariff service also announced the step on 26 March 20264.
Codes on the import declaration for goods from China
| Additional code | When it is used |
|---|---|
| 8A60 | Rutile titanium dioxide, registered since 27 March 2026 |
| 8A61 | Anatase, brookite and other excluded forms under the same codes |
Registration means customs keeps a record of each shipment. It does not charge a duty by itself. But it matters later. Under the Trade Remedies (Dumping and Subsidisation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, a final duty on registered goods may be charged from a date up to 90 days before any provisional duty starts2. The level would follow the final duty2.
The declaration needs one of two additional codes2:
- Additional code 8A60: for rutile titanium dioxide from China, which is registered.
- Additional code 8A61: for anatase, brookite and other excluded forms from China under the same commodity codes.
Registration continues until the Secretary of State publishes a notice telling HMRC to stop2.
Who started the case and who is taking part?
The applicant is Tronox Pigment UK Limited3. Its application was published on the case file on 3 March 20263.
The TRA opened the case that same day, after the application claimed Chinese goods were dumped and were harming UK industry5. Businesses had until 17 March 2026 to register as interested parties5.
The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China registered its interest as a foreign government3. Other parties also sent comments. The case file shows exchanges between Tronox and Billions Europe Ltd during August and September 20263.
What changes for UK buyers and Chinese exporters?
UK importers of Chinese rutile pigment would pay the duty at the border once it applies. Paint, plastics and paper makers that use the pigment could face higher costs. They may turn to suppliers outside China.
Chinese exporters that cooperated would face the lower 48.29% rate. Those that did not would face 63.66% and the higher £0.876 per kg floor1.
Customs brokers must keep entering 8A60 or 8A61 correctly on each declaration2. A wrong code could place excluded goods under registration, or let registered goods slip through.
The TRA must also run an Economic Interest Test before any remedy5. This test checks whether the duty is in the UK’s overall economic interest5. The TRA published survey responses from businesses and consumers on 10 September 20263.
When could the titanium dioxide duty start?
The TRA published its Statement of Essential Facts, its initial findings, on the case file on 6 October 20263. Its press release followed on 7 October1.
Titanium dioxide case dates
Comments are due by 26 October1. They go through the TRA’s Trade Remedies Service. The TRA will then make its final recommendation to the Secretary of State, who decides1.
The documents give no start date for the duty. The duty would only begin after the Secretary of State accepts it and a public notice is issued.
Key points on the UK titanium dioxide duty
The duty is proposed and not yet in force.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What changed? | TRA proposed an anti-dumping duty |
| Who issued it? | UK Trade Remedies Authority |
| Which goods? | Rutile titanium dioxide pigment |
| From where? | China |
| Rate for cooperating exporters | 48.29%, minimum £0.665 per kg |
| Rate for all others | 63.66%, minimum £0.876 per kg |
| How long? | Five years |
| Excluded forms | Anatase and brookite |
| Customs codes on declarations | 8A60 or 8A61 |
| Registration since | 27 March 2026 |
| Comment deadline | 26 October |
| Who decides? | UK Secretary of State for trade |
After the comment period closes on 26 October, the TRA will send its final recommendation to the Secretary of State. Until then, every shipment of Chinese rutile pigment stays on HMRC’s register, and a final duty could reach goods that arrived up to 90 days before any provisional duty.
Sources
- ↩ New duty proposed on imports of Chinese rutile titanium dioxide – GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-duty-proposed-on-imports-of-chinese-rutile-titanium-dioxide
- ↩ Trade remedies notice 2026/14: registration of imports of rutile titanium dioxide originating from China – GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trade-remedies-notice-registration-of-imports-of-rutile-titanium-dioxide-originating-from-china/trade-remedies-notice-202614-registration-of-imports-of-rutile-titanium-dioxide-originating-from-china
- ↩ Trade Remedies Authority | AD0086 https://public-file.trade-remedies.service.gov.uk/case/ad0086
- ↩ Registration of imports of Rutile Titanium Dioxide from China – 26 March 2026 – UK Integrated Online Tariff https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/news/stories/registration-of-imports-of-rutile-titanium-dioxide-from-china—26-march-2026
- ↩ TRA opens investigation into Chinese imports of titanium dioxide – GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tra-opens-investigation-into-chinese-imports-of-titanium-dioxide