|
Trade News Archive 2009 January February March April
Subscribe to our newsletter Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory
9th April 2009
EU duty could harm wholesale suppliers of candles
Importers and wholesale suppliers of candles could be forced to drastically push up their prices if proposed European Union (EU) legislation is pushed through.
That is according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which warned that five year duties on candles could hike up importing costs by 50 per cent - just days after the G20 leaders committed to a free trade agreement.
The trade body claimed that the tariffs would be a "slap in the face" for consumers, pushing up prices at the tills.
It suggested that the duties would only benefit a small number of continental companies looking to boost their market share.
Previously, the EU has imposed import duties on products such as low-energy light bulbs, shoes and screws, inflating shop prices in each instance.
Alisdair Gray, BRC Brussels director, said: "A vote for imposing duties on candles, is a vote for protectionism. It will benefit a handful of European producers, at the expense of hard-pressed retailers and retailers."
This week, the consortium reported that annual shop price inflation stood at two per cent in March, up from 1.9 per cent in February.
(c) 2009
Comment on this news story
Trade News Archive 2008 December November October September August July June May April March February January
|
