John Lewis has scrapped overseas delivery to focus on the UK market.

The retailer has not said the decision is related to Brexit.

The department store said the move is part of a new company strategy.

John Lewis told customers it is no longer taking orders for international delivery and that any gift bought and shipped internationally between 8 October and 9 December 2020 can be returned up until 28 January.

The department store is not the only UK retailer to axe international delivery.

Amid confusion around new Brexit trading regulation, both Fortnum & Mason and ASOS have temporarily paused EU deliveries.

Debenhams, which last year announced it had gone into liquidation, has also paused its Irish online store because of uncertainty around post-Brexit trade rules.

Goods made outside of UK or EU, which are resold by British retailers to the EU, must now face VAT and import duties.

Many businesses are likely to be impacted by these new rules, as vast number of UK businesses have their products made outside of the EU, in locations such as China.

John Lewis commented on its decision to scrap overseas delivery: "As part of our Partnership Plan for the next two years, in John Lewis we have decided to focus on areas of the business that will deliver products and services for our local UK customers."

It added: "As such, we are no longer pursuing international expansion and decided to cease our online international delivery service in mid-December."

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