British retailers are furious as Chinese firms 'use loophole to let them ship goods within the UK for fraction of the cost of a postage stamp'

英国零售商对企业利用漏洞在英国境内运输货物的行为感到愤怒，企业仅需支付相当于邮费零头的费用。

Cheap products are being sold at knock-down prices in Britain by Chinese retailers exploiting a legal loophole that means they can delivered for a fraction of the cost of a postage stamp.

在英国，的零售商利用法律漏洞，仅需支付相当于邮费零头的费用，将廉价商品以极低的价格出售。

British sellers say that subsidised postal rates and as well as a 20 per cent VAT exemption have fuelled the boom in Chinese online selling that is driving them out of business.

英国卖家表示，政府对快递费用的补贴加上20%的增值税免税额，助长了线上交易的繁荣，这已渐渐扼杀了英国卖家的生存空间。

Chinese retailers use a little known international postal treaty that requires the Royal Mail to deliver packages that arrive from China at a fraction of the cost that it normally charges, The Times reported.

据《泰晤士报》报道，零售商利用了鲜为人知的国际邮政条约，皇家邮政派送从寄来的包裹的收费仅为正常收费标准的零头。

China is classed as a develo country alongside Gabon, Kazakhstan and Cuba and is entitled to a huge subsidy on the cost of delivering all packages.

、加蓬、哈萨克斯坦和古巴一道被划为发展家，可享受对派送包裹成本的巨额补贴。

Though the exact amount of the subsidy is commercially confidential it is understood that Chinese retailers are able to send lightweight packages within the UK for as little as half a pence each.

虽然这笔补贴的准确金额是商业机密，但据了解，零售商能够在英国境内以半便士的价格发送轻质包裹。

Examples of the advantage this gives Chinese sellers include a Union Jack flag which can be bought on Amazon for £1.19, including airmail delivery from China.

这给卖家带来了好处，例如，人们可在亚马逊上以1.19英镑的价格买到英国国旗，价格已包含从发货的快递费。

Royal Mail would charge £1.26 for delivery alone to send the same product to a customer from in Britain.

而皇家邮政在英国境内派送同样的商品，要收取1.26英镑的快递费。

Richard Allen, a campaigner for small retailers, said: 'It is ridiculous for a Chinese retailer to be able to send an item to the UK for less than it costs a UK retailer to send it domestically.'

长期从事小型零售业的理查德•艾伦表示：“对于零售商来说，能以远低于英国零售商在国内发货的快递价格将商品送到英国，这是非常荒谬的。”

The system also benefits Chinese retailers because it is based on weight rather than total number of packages.

邮政系统也对零售商有利，因为它是基于包裹重量而不是包裹件数。

They can send thousands of small and lightweight packages via China Post to the UK to fulfil online orders and pay per kilogram.

他们可以通过邮政向英国发送成千上万件小型和轻型包裹，以完成网上订单，并按每公斤的快递费用来结算。

Most of the goods, sold on online platforms via platforms such as Amazon and Ebay, also avoid paying VAT.

大部分通过亚马逊和等网上平台上销售的商品，也无需支付增值税。

译文来源：三泰虎 http://www.santaihu.com/44763.html

Under EU rules low-value packages worth under £15 are exempt from VAT payments.

根据欧盟的规定，对价值低于15英镑的低价包裹免征增值税。

Priti Patel, the former international development secretary, said this needed to urgently change, adding: 'Businesses in Britain are being hit hard.'

前国际发展部长普里提•帕特尔表示，需要对这种情况立即采取措施，他补充说：“英国的企业遭到了沉重打击。”

Royal Mail said they would not be commenting.

皇家邮政称他们对此不发表评论。