{"text":[[{"start":10.55,"text":"Marks and Spencer, Next and Primark are among a host of British retailers that have called on the government to impose a charge of £2.60 on low-value goods from overseas to close a tax loophole the high street chains argue gives online giants such as Shein an unfair advantage."}],[{"start":29.2,"text":"The companies, along with Argos, Currys and Halfords, are among 15 signatories who have written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves urging them to apply a flat fee to small parcels worth less than £135, which are currently exempt from import duties and avoid tough customs checks."}],[{"start":51.15,"text":"In the letter, sent last Friday and seen by the FT, the retailers argued the move could also boost the UK’s public finances by at least £1.7bn."}],[{"start":62.25,"text":"The UK companies are stepping up their fight against a surge in low-value goods from countries such as China as the European Union prepares to impose its own duties from July. "}],[{"start":72,"text":"Chinese retailers such as Shein and Temu have exploded in popularity in recent years around the world, taking advantage of the duties exemption. Volumes for goods under the £135 UK threshold have tripled in the three years to 2024 to about 1.6mn a day."}],[{"start":90.55,"text":"The retailers argue that selling direct to consumers keeps inflation low, but UK rivals have countered that the waves of imports are avoiding local taxes and potentially bypassing safety standards."}],[{"start":103.6,"text":"After frequent complaints from local retailers, the UK government said it would reform its policy on low-value imported goods. However, a detailed framework is expected to be in place only in three years’ time. "}],[{"start":116.75,"text":"The problem was “intensifying through 2026, not 2029. There is an urgent need to act now,” the retailers warned in the letter."}],[{"start":125.15,"text":"Electrical and clothing retailers have urged Britain to mirror the EU, which will impose a temporary duty of €3 per type of item bought online below €150 from the start of July. The bloc has pledged to fully overhaul its regime for low-value imports from 2028."}],[{"start":143.15,"text":"Using the EU’s €3 (£2.60) charge and applying it as a flat rate per parcel would generate up to £1.7bn for the UK Treasury, the retailers estimated. They also warned that overseas retailers might target Britain with even more low-value goods as other countries imposed their own customs duties."}],[{"start":165.15,"text":"“We urge you to accelerate the implementation of customs reform, with meaningful progress delivered by peak 2026 trading,” the letter said."}],[{"start":173.70000000000002,"text":"Last year the US government ended a tax exemption that had allowed businesses to avoid import tariffs on parcels valued at less than $800. The move initially forced Temu to stop shipping low-cost items directly from China but it resumed the practice following a trade truce between Washington and Beijing. "}],[{"start":193.60000000000002,"text":"Shein and Temu have generated billions of dollars in revenue around the world by selling directly to consumers and their rise has eclipsed online discount fashion brands such as Asos, Matalan and George at Asda, who have also signed the letter."}],[{"start":208.40000000000003,"text":"Their rise has also worried politicians in France, who fear that Europe is becoming a dumping ground for thousands of goods that violate French or EU standards."}],[{"start":218.25000000000003,"text":"Shein and Temu did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "}],[{"start":231.90000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779862748_7763.mp3"}