Outpriced and Overlooked: Why Dumping Should Be on Every Retailer’s Radar

Walk down any high street and you’ll feel it—that quiet tension. Fewer customers are browsing. More shoppers are glued to their phones, chasing deals that seem too good to be true. But behind the bargain banners and flash sales lies a deeper threat that’s quietly reshaping the retail landscape: a fresh wave of ultra-cheap imports from China, driven not by demand but by disruption.

 

What’s Actually Going On?

Thanks to a dramatic new chapter in the US-China trade war—tariffs as high as 145% on some Chinese imports—manufacturers are looking elsewhere to shift their stock. And the UK? It’s suddenly become a very attractive landing spot.

Since January, over 38 large cargo ships have docked from China—an increase of more than 50% compared to this time last year. These aren't your typical deliveries for big-name department stores. No, most of this stock is being channelled straight into online giants like Amazon, Shein, Temu, and eBay. Platforms where speed trumps scrutiny, and price often outpaces quality.

For consumers, it might look like a bonanza. For small, independent retailers? It’s another blow in an already uneven fight.

 

What Is “Dumping,” Anyway?

Let’s clear this up early. Dumping is a trade practice where goods are exported at prices lower than what they’d fetch in their home market, sometimes even below cost. It’s not always illegal, but it is often unfair.

Why do companies do it? To offload surplus stock. To grab market share. To drive out competition and dominate new markets. The fallout? Local businesses—especially small, independent ones—find themselves priced out, not by innovation or service, but by artificially cheap goods flooding the market.

Sound familiar? That’s because the current wave of Chinese imports hitting UK shores is a textbook case of dumping.

 

Why Should Independent Retailers Be Paying Attention?

You don’t need a spreadsheet to know margins are tight. But here’s where things get especially uncomfortable:

1. Unfair Competition

Mass-produced goods from overseas are landing here VAT-free, thanks to the UK’s de minimis rule. This loophole allows items under £135 to breeze through customs without duty—something local retailers can’t compete with. While you’re factoring in business rates, VAT, and staff wages, some sellers are skipping tax altogether.

2. Product Safety Is a Gamble

A low price shouldn’t cost your customers their safety—but in some cases, it does. There have been alarming stories: a mother whose daughter was burned by nail glue purchased from Temu; toys from Shein and other platforms failing safety tests in over 80% of cases. When products bypass regulations, it’s not just about competition—it’s about trust.

3. High Street Erosion

We talk a lot about “saving the high street,” but this kind of market dumping could speed up its decline. Shoppers drawn by ultra-cheap alternatives online may not realise what’s being lost in the process—until the window displays go dark and the shutters come down for good.

 

What Can You Do About It?

This isn’t just a policy problem. It’s a community problem. And like any storm, weathering it takes both preparation and persistence.

Lobby for Fairer Rules: Join voices calling for reform. Industry groups like Bira are urging the government to close the VAT loophole and enforce fairer trading standards. Write to your MP. Add your name to petitions. Change doesn’t happen without pressure.

Double Down on What Makes You Unique: Big platforms can’t match your shop’s story, your curation, your face-to-face advice. Lean into your strengths—local provenance, thoughtful sourcing, and service with a human touch.

Educate Your Customers: This matters. If a product seems too cheap, there might be a reason. Share the risks of buying unregulated imports—especially around quality and safety—through your socials, shop window, and even receipts.

Stay Alert: Global trade is changing fast. Keep your finger on the pulse by subscribing to updates from retail bodies, trade journals, and trusted news sources. You can’t predict every wave, but you can see the swell coming.

 

The Bottom Line

This isn’t about anti-China sentiment or resisting global trade. It’s about balance. It’s about making sure that our independent shops—so vital to communities, culture, and local economies—aren’t trampled by a system that lets unfair competition thrive.

You’re not imagining it. The pressure is real. But so is your power.

Keep showing up. Keep telling your story. And keep calling for change.