They say they have a right to decide which dealers can distribute their products. They argue that cheap grey imports can damage a luxury brand in which they have invested heavily. Of course, manufacturers have a right to try to convince consumers to pay more for their products. They may also have legitimate reasons for wanting to control how their goods are sold. But once a company has sold a product, it should not be able to prevent its resale, provided that the product has not been tampered with.
Manufacturers make much of the harm that parallel imports allegedly cause consumers.
However, while some existing owners of prestige brands might fret if European prices fell to American levels, lower prices would benefit future buyers. Calvin Klein products cost less in America, but they still command a premium. On the other hand, the ban will ensure that Europeans will be milked, and firms will be able to cut prices elsewhere. Cheap Levi jeans can still be freely imported into Britain from Greece - but not from America. That worrying inconsistency may provoke non-EU countries to complain of discrimination and to retaliate.