A Sheffield-based businessman is running a petition demanding the government puts a fair tax on air cargo of companies such as Shein and Temu.

David Lloyd Hardy started his business – Ancient Wisdom – in Sheffield in 1995, and starting out selling essential oils. Now his company has vastly expanded, with warehouses in Slovakia, Indonesia, China, Spain and the UK.

The business in Deepcar, Sheffield, sells wholesale gifts such as aromatherapy supplies, home fragrances and tea among a variety of other gifts.

Ancient Wisdom ensure that their stock is imported directly from countries such as China, and that they only work with companies which ethically produce and transport their products.

Mr Hardy said: “There’s no way we can compete with companies such as Temu when they put their app onto people’s phones and send them products using the De Minimis loophole.

“Companies have to make sure their products are safe, and these aren’t generally safe.”

The De Minimis loophole means that companies that import very low value products don’t have to pay tax on them.

Mr Hardy compared the tonnes of stock on each cargo plane in comparison to his own and found that almost 50 per cent of the gift industry sales which are sent to the UK, are simply not taxed.

This can affect businesses such as Ancient Wisdom and other independent giftware companies but it also largely affects the environment.

Mr Hardy said: “Nobody really focuses on the injustice this has to smaller businesses, where our products are scrutinised over safety, where other products from companies like Temu and Shein, misinform their buyers and are not questioned.”

Mr Hardy gave the example of candles from Shein which have improper burning times and misinformation surrounding ingredients.

Tomas Belan, Company Director for Ancient Wisdom, said: “We believe there is nothing wrong with working internationally and collaborating with suppliers around the world, as long as the level of checks and standards is the same for everyone.”

The petition, which has gained almost 40,000 signatures on petition site Change.org, calls for Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to add fair tax, as companies are taxed outside of the UK meaning the UK is denied the tax revenue it should be receiving.

Petition link: Petition · Implement Fair Tax on Temu and Shein’s Air Cargo Imports to the UK – United Kingdom · Change.org

Ancient Wisdom: Wholesale Gifts, Imports, Aromatherapy and Cosmetics – Ancient Wisdom Giftware Supplier