UK retailers are urging the government to fast-track the removal of a low-value import duty exemption, saying that it gives Chinese online platforms an unfair edge over domestic businesses.
The government announced in its Autumn Budget in November 2025 that it would end the £135 ($180) de minimis customs duty relief by March 2029 at the latest.
A consultation on how the change should be implemented closed on March 6, and the Treasury has yet to publish its response.
The £135 threshold currently exempts qualifying low-value imports from customs duties, although VAT still applies.
Retailers say platforms such as Shein and Temu have benefited significantly from the arrangement by shipping parcels directly from factories in China to UK consumers….
UK Retailers Urge Faster Crackdown on Cheap Parcels From China
