Calls to close duty loophole as stores struggle

RETAILERS have called for the Government to close a loophole allowing small items to be imported without paying duty.

- By Jaymi McCann

It comes after Claire's Accessories, River Island and Hobbycraft became the latest high street casualties, announcing closures and job losses.

A legal clause currently means customs duties aren't paid on packages worth less than £135, and a recent investigation found the total declared trade value of “de minimis imports” in the last financial year was £5.9billion.

Companies such as Shein and Temu have benefited from this loophole, allowing them to import cheap goods from countries like China. Retail experts have cited this as a factor in the downfall of some high street stores trading in low-value goods.