Anyone involved in importing or exporting from the UK?

[matt819]

We import stuff from the UK. Doesn't matter what.

Our supplier's price to us is X, and despite our efforts to get them to reduce the price, they are remaining firm. This requires us to sell our products at y to make a fair margin (shipping, duties, interest).

Unfortunately, the supplier also sells these same products (exactly, precisely the same items) to retailers in the UK at approximately 60% of x, which allows the crafty online retailer in the UK to undercut our price by a substantial amount. Not only do we lose the sale, but we look stupid.

So here's the question. Is a UK supplier allowed to maintain different pricing systems for domestic/export markets? I know there are anti-dumping rules in the US (foreign manufacturers selling at lower than production cost), but are there any restrictions against penalizing US importers with higher prices?

I know I should ask a lawyer, but I thought I'd begin to narrow down my questions with some input from DU Consulting.