Trade in products, which takes place outside the official distribution system set up by a particular firm. Through their own distribution system, firms may cause differences in prices for different countries, exploiting national differences in the behaviour of consumers. Parallel traders buy products in countries where they are sold at lower prices and sell them in high-price countries. The flow of products thereby created is called parallel trade.
Source: Glossary of terms used in EU competition policy, Antitrust and control of concentrations, European Commission, 2002