Key facts
- The EU has introduced a €3 customs duty on low-value e-commerce imports, effective July 1.
- The change ends a long-standing customs exemption for parcels valued under €150.
- Platforms like SHEIN, Temu, and AliExpress are directly impacted by the new duty.
- The measure aims to address unfair competition, product safety, fraud, and environmental concerns.
- Platforms will be designated 'deemed importers,' taking legal responsibility for product safety.
- Category-specific duties will replace the €3 fee starting July 1, 2028.
The European Union has implemented a new €3 customs duty on low-value e-commerce imports, effective July 1, ending a long-standing loophole that allowed parcels under €150 to enter the bloc tax-free. This measure targets online platforms such as SHEIN, Temu, and AliExpress, aiming to address concerns over unfair competition for European retailers, product safety, fraud, and the environmental impact of high-volume imports.
The change targets a system that regulators say has distorted the market, with over two billion small parcels arriving annually, many with incorrect valuations or unclear safety information. By shipping millions of individual orders directly from China, these platforms avoided import duties, gaining an advantage over EU businesses. The new duty applies per product category, meaning a basket of items could incur multiple €3 charges. Platforms will also become legally responsible for product safety as 'deemed importers.'
While a €2 handling fee may follow and tighter digital screening could slow deliveries, the change is expected to increase consumer prices as platforms pass on additional costs. This €3 charge is a temporary measure, set to be replaced by category-specific duties from July 1, 2028, when the new EU Customs Authority is scheduled to begin operations.