UK duty stays at 10%: reset your Europe entry port

Britain staying at 10% means the first European port should move. The EU layers a countervailing duty of up to 35.3% on the same base, a 45.3% ceiling, and London refused to follow. Importers should rewrite allocation sheets, not the press coverage.

Volume explains it. Chinese brands held 16% of UK new-car sales in early 2026, against 12% Japanese and 10% Korean. January to August brought 270,000 China-built new energy vehicles: 135,500 BEVs, 133,100 PHEVs. Both sell, and cutting one line hands share away.

Price one unit. A battery SUV at CIF EUR 20,000 pays about EUR 2,000 into Britain; the same car reaches EUR 8,000 to 9,000 in the EU with the countervailing duty. Over EUR 6,000 separates London from Rotterdam. Put the first stop in Britain, not Rotterdam.

Purchasing splits three ways. Quota right-hand-drive stock, since UK orders cannot soak up EU leftovers. Budget UKCA and EU type approval as two processes with no shared reports. Watch stock turn: quick clearance in Britain, slow in the EU, one to two months of extra funding.

Ask suppliers for three documents: the customs declaration, the CIF quotation, and the UKCA plus EU type approval list. Build two cost sheets, one per jurisdiction, loading the countervailing rate model by model. Send a spec sheet and annual volume for a two-port landed-cost check.

What certifications are required to import used cars from China?
Requirements vary by destination (e.g. EAEU needs SBKTS/OTTC, GCC for the Middle East). EZ Auto handles compliant documents and certification per the destination customs, confirming clearance before shipment to avoid port hold-ups.

What recent policy changes affect Chinese vehicle exports?
EV subsidies are phasing out while export licensing and shipping capacity fluctuate. EZ Auto tracks destination tariffs and certification changes and updates them in the News section for procurement decisions.

Can an individual buy a car directly from China for export?
Possible, but with document and customs hurdles. Most buyers order through a licensed exporter like EZ Auto, which handles the contract, export declaration and destination paperwork; you only handle pickup and local registration.

What export documents are needed for used cars?
Core documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, export customs declaration, bill of lading and the destination's import clearance papers. EZ Auto prepares the full set before shipment to ensure smooth clearance abroad and avoid demurrage.

Do destination countries limit the age of imported vehicles?
New cars are mostly unrestricted; used cars often face an age cap (e.g. some Middle East and Africa markets require within 5-8 years). EZ Auto checks the destination's age rule before shipping and screens out non-compliant units to avoid rejection at port.

This article is published by EZ Auto. EZ Auto (Cheyixing Automobile Import & Export) specializes in exporting Chinese vehicles — new, used and parts — serving Latin America, Central Asia & CIS, Africa, the Middle East and the EU, with order-based sourcing, inspection with photo report, export documentation and ocean freight in one place.