Managing import duties: the tariff inversion strategy

Mark Rowbotham
Mark Rowbotham
Customs, Excise & VAT Consultant, PORTCULLIS ISC, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Published 08 Apr 2026
Managing import duties: the tariff inversion strategy
Vecteezy
Topic spotlight
taxes and tariffs
This article explores the concept of tariff inversion and explains how it can be used by businesses to legally reduce import duties and, increasingly, to manage tariff changes, alongside other benefits. It outlines how the strategy works in practice, particularly in connection with customs procedures such as inward processing and free zones. Practical examples are provided to illustrate the concept, followed by a comparison of how tariff inversion is applied in the UK and the US.