Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to HM Revenue and Customs' press release entitled Government backs high street with acceleration of cheap import reforms and crackdown on dodgy online sellers, published on 23 June 2026, what assessment she has made of whether the implementation date of October 2028 provides sufficient protection for UK retailers.

At Tax Update Day 2026, the Government announced that it would accelerate the removal of the customs duty relief for low value imports and introduce a new set of customs arrangements by October 2028 at the latest.

The Government has determined that implementing the reforms by October 2028 strikes an appropriate balance between strengthening customs controls and supporting fair competition sooner, while retaining sufficient lead-in time for businesses to adapt their processes and prepare for the new requirements.