// John Lewis removes international delivery service to focus on the UK market
// Online fashion retailer Asos said orders from UK site can no longer be delivered to Europe
// Debenhams said it is unable to deliver to the Republic of Ireland
John Lewis has axed its international delivery service after a number of British retailers scrap their shipping to the EU.
The department store chain said that its decision is not related to Brexit, but was part of a new strategy to focus on the UK market as it struggles to trade.
Online fashion retailer Asos said orders from its UK site can no longer be delivered to Europe, while its local European sites are still running as normal.
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Department store Fortnum & Mason is not delivering to either Northern Ireland or the EU.
Meanwhile, Debenhams – which went into liquidation in December – said it was unable to deliver to the Republic of Ireland.
Its Irish website – Debenhams.ie – was temporarily taken down on Christmas Eve.
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, goods traded between the UK and the EU remains tariff-free.
However, those imported into the UK and then exported on to the EU are often not exempt.
“As part of our Partnership Plan for the next two years, we have decided to focus on areas of the business that will deliver products and services for our local UK customers,” John Lewis said.
“As such, we are no longer pursuing international expansion and decided to cease our online international delivery service in mid-December.”
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