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On August 5, 2026, the United Kingdom Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) officially initiated a safeguard investigation into Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) products imported into the UK market.
Products Subject to the Investigation
The products under investigation are Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) resin, including:
- Virgin PET (vPET) with an intrinsic viscosity of 74 ml/g or higher;
- Recycled PET (rPET) within the same viscosity range.
The reference commodity codes within the scope of the investigation include 3907 6100 and 3907 6900.
Reasons for Initiating the Investigation
According to the application, imports of PET into the United Kingdom increased significantly during the 2021–2025 period, causing serious injury to the domestic PET industry.
The applicants argue that the increase in imports resulted from a number of unforeseen developments in international markets, including the Russia–Ukraine conflict, global overcapacity in PET production, and structural changes in the Asian PET market.
These factors are alleged to have increased competitive pressure on PET producers in the United Kingdom, resulting in a decline in the domestic industry’s market share and negatively affecting several key economic indicators, including revenue, production, productivity, and employment.
Based on the information provided in the application, the TRA decided to initiate an investigation to determine whether the increased imports have caused or threaten to cause serious injury to the UK domestic industry and to assess whether the imposition of safeguard measures is warranted.
Investigation Period and Next Steps
The period of investigation (POI) is from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025.
During the investigation, the TRA is expected to undertake several key activities, including notifying the WTO Committee on Safeguards of the case, issuing questionnaires to domestic producers and interested parties, conducting verification visits, and assessing factors relevant to the condition of the UK PET industry.
The TRA will also consider the possibility of imposing provisional safeguard measures if sufficient grounds exist under the applicable regulations.
What Should Vietnamese Enterprises Note?
Interested parties in the case, including exporters, importers, foreign governments, and organizations or individuals with relevant interests, may register to participate in the investigation.
The deadline for registering as an interested party is August 19, 2026. Registration must be completed through the TRA’s Trade Remedies Service.
For Vietnamese enterprises currently producing, trading, or exporting PET products falling within the scope of the investigation to the United Kingdom, proactively registering to participate in the case is important to ensure their right to submit information, present their views, and protect their legitimate interests throughout the investigation.
The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam recommends that the Vietnam Plastics Association (VPAS), together with producers and exporters of the relevant products, proactively monitor the case and register as interested parties within the prescribed deadline.
To protect their legitimate interests, manufacturers and exporters should familiarize themselves with the procedure and actively contact Vietnam Antidumping Law Firm specializing in anti-dumping and trade remedy for timely assistance.
ASL Law is a leading full-service and independent Vietnamese law firm made up of experienced and talented lawyers. ASL Law is ranked as the top tier Law Firm in Vietnam by Legal500, Asia Law, WTR, and Asia Business Law Journal. Based in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, the firm’s main purpose is to provide the most practical, efficient and lawful advice to its domestic and international clients. If we can be of assistance, please email to [email protected].
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