It means that people will be able to dodge the local GST when it is implemented, undercutting those local retailers who charge VAT-equivalent prices by up to 20%.
The ‘ballpark’ figure was revealed by Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur during a scrutiny panel hearing into the effects of GST on certain sections of the community.
He said that although nothing was definite, he had a three-figure amount in mind, with a minimum of £100 and a maximum of £500.
In the UK, anyone can import shopping from overseas, and as long as the item in any one package does not exceed a value of £18, it does not attract VAT.
