The US will end its so-called “de minimis” exemption on imports of low-cost goods from China and Hong Kong from Friday. This had allowed those valued at $800 (£596) or less to enter the country without paying any tariffs.
It is due to drop the exemption for other countries on 29 August.
The European Union also recently announced plans to charge a €2 flat fee on small packages worth €150 (£129) or less entering the bloc.
While the value of small parcels arriving in the UK from China has soared, when it comes to the actual number of items entering the country, the picture is less clear.
HMRC said it only records the number of customs declarations used for goods worth £135 or less, and multiple items can be included under one declaration.
It recorded around 281,000 customs declarations for low-value imports dispatched from China in 2024-25 – about 12% of the total.
A Treasury spokesperson said Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ review of the customs treatment of low-value imports was ongoing and would be published “in due course”.
They added: “We are a pro-business government that is backing Britain’s High Streets by protecting and extending business rates relief that would have ended without our action, permanently lowering rates for retailers from next year, and capping corporation tax at the lowest level in the G7 to encourage investment and growth.”
Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell.