Ministers are allegedly assessing whether elements of the reform could be introduced before 2029 after pressure from UK retailers, The Times reported.

The move would target the customs duty relief on low-value imports, which allows goods worth £135 or less to enter the UK without customs duties.

The Treasury launched a consultation in November 2025 on removing the relief, with the Chancellor confirming at the Autumn Budget that it would be scrapped from March 2029 at the latest.

However, retailers have warned that the timetable was too slow and risked leaving British businesses at a disadvantage against overseas ecommerce platforms.

Shein and Temu have expanded rapidly in the UK by shipping low-cost goods directly from overseas manufacturers to shoppers, often bypassing costs faced by retailers using traditional supply chains.

Sainsbury’s, Currys and AO World were among the retailers to argue that the current system gave overseas rivals an unfair advantage, according to The Times.

The Entertainer chief executive Andrew Murphy also urged ministers to move faster, describing the 2029 timetable as “unacceptable”.

Industry groups have warned the UK could become an outlier as other major markets move more quickly on low-value imports.

The US removed its de minimis exemption last year, while the EU has been preparing a temporary customs duty on low-value parcels before wider reforms.

Retail bosses have said a delay in the UK could lead to more low-cost and potentially unsafe goods being redirected into the market.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “The rapid growth in low-value imports is hurting our high streets and retailers.

“We are removing the customs duty relief for low-value imports and reforming the way these goods are declared into the UK to ensure all goods are appropriately controlled.”

The Treasury said the reforms would back UK businesses, improve border controls and keep Britain in line with international partners.