UK lowers tire import duties under new scheme

London – The UK government has reduced tire tariffs in its new tariff regime that will provide a baseline for negotiations for free trade agreements with the European Union, the US and other countries.

Under UK Global Tariff, introduced 19 May, tariff duties of 4% apply to all types of pneumatic tires imported to the country, while antidumping or counterveiling duties may apply to certain products.

The figure replaces the EU external tariff which stood at 4.5%.

Import duties for natural rubber, natural rubber latex, ‘camel-back’ strips of unvulcanised rubber for retreading tires as well as aircraft tires for use on civil aircraft remain at 0.0%.

The import of natural polymers and modified natural polymers, e.g. hardened proteins and chemical derivatives of natural rubber have also been “liberalised” with 0.0% tariff under the new regime. 

The new tariffs will come to effect in January 2021 when EU regulations no longer apply in the UK, the government said.

Under the new regime, a 10% tariff applies to cars imported from countries with which Britain has no trade agreement.