The proposed measure from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) follows an investigation into the dumping of diggers by China prompted by a complaint from JCB.

TRA Chief Executive Oliver Griffiths said: “Excavator production is an important component of the UK’s Advanced Manufacturing sector. Our provisional finding is that UK producers are being  undercut significantly by dumped imports from China.”

The proposed duties would range from 33.03% for sampled producers that took part in the investigation to 83.5% for all other overseas exporters that did not participate.

The TRA found that Chinese exporters were able to use reduced production costs to price their exports below UK competitors who did not benefit from an artificially low-cost base. It determined that UK prices were undercut by a rate of 23.39%.

The TRA initial findings are now open to comments before the government will make a decision on duties.

Any tariffs introduced are expected to come into force in the first half of next year.