What Are Anti-Dumping Duties? A Simple Guide for Smart Sourcing

If you’re importing products like tile, stone, or furniture into the U.S., chances are you’ve heard the term anti-dumping duty—or felt the sting of one. But what does it actually mean? And more importantly, how can you avoid unexpected costs that could derail your budget?

At Supply Junkie, we're here to decode the fine print so you can source smarter, not more expensively.

The Basics: What Is Dumping?

In trade lingo, “dumping” is when a foreign manufacturer sells a product in another country (like the U.S.) at a price lower than its home market—or even below production cost. This can harm domestic producers who can't compete with artificially low prices.

To level the playing field, the U.S. government imposes anti-dumping duties—extra import taxes—on certain products from specific countries.

What’s an Anti-Dumping Duty?

It’s an additional fee, applied on top of regular customs duties and tariffs, designed to make sure the imported product is fairly priced.

These duties vary by product and country of origin—and they can be steep (we’re talking 50% to 400% or more in some cases).

Common Products That Get Hit with Anti-Dumping Duties

Here are some of the top categories to keep on your radar:

• Porcelain tile (especially from China)

• Quartz slabs (China, India, and Turkey)

• Aluminum extrusions

• Mattresses

• Steel and iron products

• Certain cabinetry and vanities

• Plastic bags and containers

• Tool chests and cabinets

Even if a product looks affordable, a hidden anti-dumping duty can turn a “deal” into a disaster—especially if you're sourcing directly from a supplier who doesn’t understand U.S. compliance.

How Do You Know If a Product Has an Anti-Dumping Duty?

This is where a qualified customs broker or trade consultant (like us!) is key. The U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintain databases on all active anti-dumping cases—but they’re not exactly user-friendly.

At Supply Junkie, we research this for every product we quote—so you’re never blindsided by hidden costs when your container hits the port.

What If the Product Could Be Hit with a Duty?

If your product category is under investigation or has an existing anti-dumping ruling:

• We can source alternatives from countries not affected.

• We can explore different material options with similar looks.

• We can help you determine the total landed cost before you commit to anything.

Bottom Line

Anti-dumping duties aren’t always obvious, but they can hit hard. Whether you’re sourcing quartz countertops or aluminum doors, the best protection is proactive research and smart planning.

Need help making sense of it all? Reach out to our team—we're here to make sourcing smarter, simpler, and totally surprise-free.