The EU has introduced a new €3 customs fee on low-value e-commerce parcels, ending a long-standing duty-free advantage that helped Chinese shopping platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress rapidly expand across Europe. The new rule took effect on July 1 and applies to parcels valued at €150 or less imported from outside the EU.
The move is designed to address what EU officials describe as unfair competition from ultra-low-cost imports and to ease the growing burden on customs authorities. Imports of low-value parcels have surged from 1.4 billion in 2022 to 5.8 billion in 2025, with the vast majority arriving from China.
The new charge is expected to affect millions of online shoppers and could make some low-cost products more expensive.
Key changes include:
- A €3 customs fee on parcels worth up to €150.
- The fee applies per customs classification within a shipment, meaning orders containing different product categories could face multiple charges.
- The temporary measure will remain in place until 2028, when the EU plans to introduce a new customs system with category-based duties.
Major online retailers are already adapting. Shein has expanded warehouse capacity in Europe to reduce cross-border shipments, while platforms such as AliExpress and Amazon are expected to display import costs before customers complete their purchases.
For investors, the new rules highlight increasing regulatory pressure on cross-border e-commerce platforms. While companies may absorb part of the additional cost, analysts expect higher prices for consumers and slower growth in low-cost parcel shipments into Europe.
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