UK Trade Remedies Authority to investigate aluminium road wheels imports from China to decide anti-dumping duties

According to a recent report, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) of the United Kingdom will review aluminium road wheels imports from the People’s Republic of China. The objective is to evaluate whether anti-dumping duties are required to countervail imports to the UK or whether the domestic aluminium road wheels industry would be injured without the duties.

TRA will reportedly review the wheels which are used on motor vehicles and often called ‘alloy wheels’. As the name suggests, the wheels are made from an alloy of mainly aluminium with a small amount of other metals or silicone to increase durability.

The investigation will cover the wheels imported between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. In order to assess injury, the non-departmental public body will examine the imports of July 1, 2017-June 30, 2021.

Anti-dumping duties allow taking action against goods sold at a lesser price than the normal value. The TRA is the UK body that determines whether trade remedy measures are required to resist unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.

Aluminium road wheels are commonly manufactured by forging or casting process. Forged wheels are more expensive than cast wheels but provide better strength, and thus, are used in high-performance and off-road vehicles.