Measure
The government has announced the removal of import duty on more than 100 products – including some food, drink and fuel items – as well as extending some existing tariff suspensions.
The new products due to become duty-free include household items such as certain jams, chocolates and plant-based beverages as well as fertilisers and kerosene. This is the second round of new tariff reductions this year, following an initial package in June 2026 covering products including pasta and fruit juice.
Alongside this, the government has extended existing tariff suspensions on more than 250 goods that were due to expire on 31 December 2026 until December 2028. Separate suspensions due to expire in June 2027 will also be extended to December 2027 while a review of possible further extensions takes place. The suspensions maintain tariff-free imports across sectors including chemicals, plastics, hydrogen, automotive and food and drink, with businesses able to propose new suspensions, and comment on existing ones, between 11 November 2026 and 3 February 2027.
Households, food and drink producers and agricultural businesses utilising the covered products may benefit from lower import costs following the announcement of new tariff cuts. Consumer savings are expected to be in the range of £245-595m a year.
Businesses that import products covered by the extended suspensions, including those in chemicals, plastics, hydrogen, automotive and food and drinks sectors will maintain reduced import costs of up to £155m a year.
The new tariff eliminations have not been given an implementation date. The extended tariff suspensions are already in force and run to either December 2027 or December 2028, depending on the product.
The practical impact of these changes on consumers is likely to be limited. Taken together, the announcements are expected to equate to a saving of £21 on the household food shop each year. Removal of import duty on kerosene may provide help to rural households if the 4% duty saving is passed on.
The impact on businesses from marginally lower import costs on a select number of goods is expected to be modest and uneven. It is also uncertain whether savings will be passed on to agricultural businesses by importers, while the impact on farmers from lower fertiliser costs will depend on the specific products covered.