STORY
Major British retailers have urged ministers to move more quickly to close a tax loophole they say gives overseas online platforms an unfair advantage. Companies including Next, Marks & Spencer, Primark, Argos, ASOS, Kingfisher and Currys have called for a £2.60 customs duty on low-value parcels from overseas.
The retailers argue that ultra-low-cost platforms such as Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Amazon Haul benefit from rules that allow parcels worth less than £135 to avoid customs duties. The Government has said it intends to begin charging duties on such parcels from March 2029 at the latest and has launched a consultation.
In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, the retailers said ministers needed to speed up the process to restore fair competition. The issue is likely to add to wider political debate about the future of high streets, consumer prices, Chinese e-commerce and the balance between cheaper goods and domestic retail jobs.