Sourcing excavators from China: the duty by weight
Track-laying excavators from China pay 0% UK customs duty, but machines of 11 to 80 tonnes operating weight also carry up to 40.08% anti-dumping and 2.98% countervailing duty from 14 May 2025 to 14 May 2030. Excavators under 11 tonnes, including mini excavators, and those of 80 tonnes and above are exempt. Cambridge China Bridge sources excavators with the duty checked by model.
Mini excavators under 11 tonnes from China carry no trade remedy; 11 to 80 tonne machines face up to 40.08% anti-dumping and 2.98% countervailing duty.
Operating weight decides the duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, track-laying excavators carried 0% customs duty on goods from China, and so did other excavators, shovel loaders and other earthmoving machines. Track-laying excavators, however, carry a definitive anti-dumping and a countervailing duty on China, set by Trade Remedies notices 2025/10 and 2025/11, which run from 14 May 2025 to 14 May 2030.
The measures apply by operating weight. Excavators below 11,000 kg are exempt, and so are those of 80,000 kg and above. Between the two, exporters not named pay 40.08% anti-dumping and 2.98% countervailing duty; named groups pay lower rates, from 18.81% to 32.82% anti-dumping and 0% to 2.44% countervailing, subject to the invoice conditions in the tariff. A mini excavator and a 20-tonne machine from the same factory therefore land very differently; check the model with the anti-dumping duty checker.
| Operating weight and exporter | Anti-dumping duty | Countervailing duty |
|---|---|---|
| Below 11,000 kg (mini excavators) | 0% | 0% |
| 11,000 kg to below 80,000 kg, exporters not named | 40.08% | 2.98% |
| 11,000 kg to below 80,000 kg, named groups | 18.81% to 32.82% | 0% to 2.44% |
| 80,000 kg and above | 0% | 0% |
Machinery, engine and noise
An excavator is machinery under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, so it needs the conformity assessment, technical file and declaration for the exact model and configuration. The engine falls under the non-road engine emission rules, and earthmoving machines are outdoor equipment with noise obligations, so ask for the engine emission approval and the noise test report with the quotation, and check the engine plate at inspection.
Attachments are a separate purchase and a separate duty question: buckets and other parts carry no anti-dumping measure, as the machinery parts guide sets out. Match the quick coupler to the attachments your customers already own.
What to check on the machine
Hydraulic pumps and motors, the engine make and the undercarriage decide how long an excavator lasts, and they are where a cheaper machine differs from a dearer one. Name the component brands in the product specification, and check them, with a function test and a hydraulic leak check, before the machine is crated.
Manuals, safety decals and the operator's controls should be in English, and the parts book should come with the machine, because a hire fleet or contractor will need parts long after delivery.
Shipping and support
Mini excavators ship in containers; larger machines go by flat rack or roll-on roll-off vessel, which changes the freight and the landed price. Order filters, teeth, tracks and a service kit with the first machines.
Cambridge China Bridge sources mini and midi excavators for dealers, hire fleets and contractors, with the trade remedy, the machinery documents and a pre-shipment function test checked for each model. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
Is there anti-dumping duty on excavators from China?
On track-laying excavators of 11 to 80 tonnes operating weight, yes: up to 40.08% anti-dumping and 2.98% countervailing duty, read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, from 14 May 2025 to 14 May 2030.
Are mini excavators from China subject to anti-dumping duty?
No. Excavators with an operating weight below 11,000 kg are exempt from both measures, as are those of 80,000 kg and above.
What is the customs duty on excavators from China?
0% on track-laying and other excavators, read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026. The trade remedies are charged on top where they apply.
What documents should come with an imported excavator?
The machinery conformity declaration and technical file for the model, the engine emission approval, the noise test report, and English manuals and parts book.