UK Initiates Safeguard Investigation into Imported Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Products

The investigation was initiated following an application submitted by local polyester bottle-grade PET producer Alpek. According to the TRA announcement, the investigation was launched under Paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 5 to the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.

The products covered by the investigation include PET resin, including virgin polyethylene terephthalate (vPET) and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) with a viscosity number of 74 ml/g or higher.

The TRA will examine whether the increase in PET imports has caused, or threatens to cause, serious injury to UK domestic producers, and whether safeguard measures are warranted under the relevant trade remedy framework.

The UK investigation follows previous trade remedy measures concerning PET imports in the European market. In March 2024, the European Union imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on certain PET imports originating from China, with duty rates ranging from 6.6% to 24.2% depending on the exporting producer. Under this measure, Wankai New Materials was assigned an anti-dumping duty rate of 10.7%.

As regulatory developments continue to evolve in the European PET market, industry participants will closely monitor the progress of the UK investigation and assess its potential implications for regional trade flows, supply arrangements and market dynamics.