BREAKING: The European Union has just announced a new €3 customs fee on parcels valued under €150, a move targeting e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu. This urgent measure aims to protect local retailers and enhance customs controls starting from July 1, 2026.
This decision comes as EU finance ministers met on Friday to address the overwhelming influx of low-cost products entering the market, primarily from China. In 2024 alone, 4.6 billion parcels worth under €150 flooded into the EU, with a staggering 91 percent of these shipments originating from Chinese platforms. The volume has tripled since 2022, creating significant challenges for customs authorities and spurring complaints from European retailers.
The new fee applies to parcels from all non-EU countries and is designed particularly to target Chinese-founded platforms. Each parcel will incur a flat €3 charge. Notably, if multiple identical items are shipped together, the fee will apply once. However, parcels containing a mix of products will see the fee charged for each product category, potentially increasing costs for platforms that split orders into multiple shipments.
French Economy Minister Roland Lescure hailed the introduction of the fee as a “major victory for the European Union.” He emphasized that this fee serves as a temporary measure while the EU develops a more permanent framework for managing the billions of incoming shipments. Additional processing fees are expected as early as November 2026 to further fund enhanced customs controls.
The urgency of this measure stems from concerns that overseas e-commerce platforms have been exploiting loopholes in EU customs regulations, allowing them to sell low-cost goods that often evade EU product safety, environmental, and consumer protection standards. This has heightened the risk of counterfeit and dangerous products entering the EU market, overwhelming customs officials.
As the EU continues to refine its customs union, these changes underscore a growing commitment to ensuring fair competition for European retailers and safeguarding consumers from substandard products. The €3 fee is a critical step aimed at leveling the playing field and is part of a broader reform expected to conclude by 2028.
Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops. This new customs fee marks a significant shift in e-commerce regulations within the EU, impacting millions of online shoppers and retailers alike.
