NewsCheck UK trade tariffs from 1 January 2021

From 1 January 2021, the UK will apply a UK-specific tariff to imported goods.   This UK Global Tariff (UKGT) will replace the EU’s Common External Tariff, which applies until 31 December 2020. The government ran a consultation to inform development of the UKGT. Read the summary of public responses and government response for full details.

Use this service to check the UK Global Tariff that will apply to goods you import from 1 January 2021. You can also check the difference between what you pay now and what you’ll pay from 1 January 2021.

What the tariff applies to

The UKGT will apply to all goods imported into the UK unless:

It only shows the tariffs that will be applied to goods at the border when they’re imported into the UK.

It does not cover:

Goods covered by a tariff-rate quota

Some products are covered by a tariff-rate quota. This allows a limited amount of a product to be imported at a zero or lower tariff rate.

The limit may be expressed in units of:

  • weight
  • volume
  • quantity
  • value

If this limit is exceeded, a higher tariff rate applies.

If there is a tariff-rate quota on your product, you can apply to import a limited amount at a reduced rate of customs duty.  Some tariff-rate quotas are only applicable to products imported from a specified country.

The government will publish further advice on tariff-rate quotas later in 2020. This will be based on the quotas in the UK goods schedule at the World Trade Organization, published in draft in 2018.

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