Blog · Industry news · 19 October 2026
Imported aluminium windows: what the 15 October security ruling means for builders
On 14 October 2026 the Australian Trade Remedies Commission made a preliminary affirmative determination in its investigation into aluminium windows and doors exported from China. From 15 October 2026, importers must provide a financial security of between 5.3% and 73.3% of the value of those goods when they clear customs, depending on the exporter.
If you have imported aluminium in a current window package, or you're pricing one now, this affects you.
What the Commission found
- Scope: aluminium windows and doors from China, fully or partly assembled, glazed or unglazed, thermally broken or not. Window wall systems are included. Curtain wall is excluded.
- Dumping: every Chinese exporter examined except one sold below normal value during the investigation period (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025). Margins ran from 5.3% to 51.6% for individually examined exporters and 70.4% for those that didn't cooperate.
- Subsidies: only non-cooperating exporters attracted an extra 2.9%. This is mainly a pricing case.
- Tenders: the Commission examined around 3,350 tenders and found Australian offers undercut by 9% to 73%. Half were undercut by 30% or more.
- Quality: the Commission did not assess quality or compliance allegations in this finding.
- Rates: 24.4% applies to cooperating exporters that weren't individually examined, and 73.3% to uncooperative and unlisted exporters.
What happens next
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 15 Oct 2026 | Securities apply at customs clearance |
| 3 Nov 2026 | Submissions on the Statement of Essential Facts close |
| 16 Dec 2026 | Commission's final report to the Minister due |
| ~Jan 2027 | Minister decides on final measures (within about 30 days) |
The securities are not a final duty yet. If the Minister imposes final measures, they can be converted into duty. If not, they're returned.
The risk for builders
The security is the importer's obligation, but the cost has to land somewhere. Before you rely on an imported aluminium price, check:
- Price validity. Was the quote issued before 15 October? Will the supplier hold it, or is there a clause that passes on duties and securities?
- Programme. Goods arriving after the Minister's decision could attract final duties. Know your landing dates.
- Supplier stability. An importer carrying securities of up to 73.3% on stock has tied up a lot of cash. Ask how they're funding it.
- Remakes. A wrong-size or damaged frame made overseas means another production run, another shipment and another customs entry, now with a security attached.
- Accountability. Who stands behind the warranty in Australia, and who do you call when something isn't right on site?
None of this means an imported product is the wrong choice. It means the price on the quote may no longer be the whole cost.
uPVC is outside the ruling
The investigation covers aluminium windows and doors only. uPVC windows and doors are not in scope.
Sustainable Windows fabricates Schueco uPVC windows and doors at our own factory in St Marys, NSW, using Schueco profiles extruded in Germany. That gives builders:
- Local measurement and fabrication. Site measures are turned into frames in Sydney, and a remake is a factory job, not a shipment.
- No anti-dumping exposure on the window package.
- Thermal performance from the frame material itself. The Schueco Corona CT 70 multi-chamber profile slows heat through the frame, and uPVC conducts very little heat to begin with. Whole-window ratings are published on WERS.
- A local point of accountability from order to handover.
Sustainable Windows supplies only. We can recommend an experienced installation team we've worked with for many years, because high-performance frames need careful installation to deliver their rated performance.
Re-price a window package
If you have a project currently priced on imported aluminium, send us the schedule and we'll quote it in Schueco uPVC so you can compare the full picture: performance, programme and risk.
Sources: Trade Remedies Notice 2026/147 (PDF) and Statement of Essential Facts 691 (PDF), industry.gov.au, 14 Oct 2026; ABC News, 15 Oct 2026. This is a summary of a preliminary finding and isn't legal advice. Check your own contracts.
Pricing a job on imported aluminium?
FAQ
Questions from builders and architects
What did the Trade Remedies Commission decide on 14 October 2026?
It made a preliminary affirmative determination in Investigation 691 into aluminium windows and doors exported from China. From 15 October 2026, importers must provide a security of between 5.3% and 73.3% of the value of the goods at customs clearance, depending on the exporter.
Is the security a final anti-dumping duty?
No. The securities are not a final duty yet. The Commission's final report is due to the Minister by 16 December 2026. If the Minister imposes final measures, the securities can be converted into duty. If not, they're returned.
Are uPVC windows and doors covered by the ruling?
No. The investigation covers aluminium windows and doors only. uPVC windows and doors are not in scope.
Does the ruling cover window wall and curtain wall?
Window wall systems are included. Curtain wall is excluded from the goods description.