Duty-free deal in EU unlikely

The European Commission will almost certainly close the door next week on any deal with European Union member states to extend duty-free shopping beyond June this year.

Ireland, France, Germany and the UK are among member states demanding that the Commission suspend the abolition of duty free shopping.

But senior Commission officials have decided not to propose any reprieve for the duty-free regime in spite of the intense lobbying from EU capitals and the tobacco, alcohol and luxury goods industries.