A new  EU crockery tax was levied on Chinese ceramics from midnight on last night (Thursday 22nd November 2012). Unbelievably, the European Commission gave importers just 24 hours’ notice of the introduction of the shock ‘Anti-dumping’ tax. The new tax applies up to 58% to the price of Chinese crockery. Apparently the Commission’s decision came after an investigation into claims by an anonymous European manufacturer that Chinese producers set artificially low prices.

As you may expect there are fears as to what effect this will have on the mug suppliers in our industry, and on both future orders and orders currently on the sea.  We understand the BPMA are looking for Brian Bindley MP to lobby parliament on the industries behalf.