THE uk is the latest country to examine whether changes are needed to its tax exemption for low-value packages.
At the moment, the UK allows goods valued at GBP135 (US$180) or less to be imported into the country without any duties being paid.
This loophole has been exploited by e-commerce platforms to bring goods into the country at a lower cost than traditional high-street retailers that bring in goods in bulk and store them in warehouses, reports London's Air Cargo News.
However, that could be about to change after the country's chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government would look into the exemption.
Officials will engage stakeholders from next month to consider the impact of any changes to the exemption on UK consumers, minimising administrative costs and other factors.
Some of Britain's best-known retailers such as Next and Sainsburys have called to amend the treatment, arguing that it disadvantages them by allowing international companies to undercut them.
UK business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'This government won't stand idly by while cheap imports flood our markets and harm British industries.
'That is why I met with the Trade Remedies Authority recently to agree urgent steps to tackle these issues in real time to deliver quicker protections for firms.'
E-commerce platforms, such as Temu and Shein, use similar tactics across the world and are facing increased scrutiny as markets are flooded with millions of packages each day.
In the US, for instance, the de minimis exemption is due to end in May, while the European Union has also announced a crackdown.
SeaNews Turkey
At the moment, the UK allows goods valued at GBP135 (US$180) or less to be imported into the country without any duties being paid.
This loophole has been exploited by e-commerce platforms to bring goods into the country at a lower cost than traditional high-street retailers that bring in goods in bulk and store them in warehouses, reports London's Air Cargo News.
However, that could be about to change after the country's chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government would look into the exemption.
Officials will engage stakeholders from next month to consider the impact of any changes to the exemption on UK consumers, minimising administrative costs and other factors.
Some of Britain's best-known retailers such as Next and Sainsburys have called to amend the treatment, arguing that it disadvantages them by allowing international companies to undercut them.
UK business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'This government won't stand idly by while cheap imports flood our markets and harm British industries.
'That is why I met with the Trade Remedies Authority recently to agree urgent steps to tackle these issues in real time to deliver quicker protections for firms.'
E-commerce platforms, such as Temu and Shein, use similar tactics across the world and are facing increased scrutiny as markets are flooded with millions of packages each day.
In the US, for instance, the de minimis exemption is due to end in May, while the European Union has also announced a crackdown.
SeaNews Turkey
