Serious problems are caused by overloads and disruptions in logistics, so the European Union (EU) is currently considering the introduction of a fee on small packages from third countries, especially from China.
It is expected that member countries will be able to charge two euros from online trading companies for each package worth up to 150 euros. This measure aims to address the difficulties posed by the mass influx of cheap goods for individual member states, reports "Latvijas pasts."
As noted by the State Revenue Service (SRS), a political agreement has been reached within the framework of the upcoming customs reform in the EU to abolish the exemption from customs duties on goods worth less than 150 euros, as well as to introduce a fee for processing packages. The reform includes the establishment of a Single EU Customs Data Center, with primary tasks assigned to the European Commission and the future EU customs authority.
Discussions on the draft regulations are still ongoing, so exact timelines for the implementation of the reform have not yet been announced. It is preliminarily expected that the processing fee for packages could be introduced by the end of 2026, and the abolition of the 150-euro threshold could occur in 2028.
According to "Latvijas pasts," the proposed measure is not an effective solution, as it does not address the root cause of the problems related to the lack of customs capacity and oversight in certain countries, such as the Netherlands and Belgium. The company believes it would be more beneficial to diversify logistics routes and distribute flows to reduce the burden on overloaded countries and expedite processing. This would improve control, speed up procedures, and reduce risks. At the same time, "Latvijas pasts" states its readiness to handle a significantly larger volume of shipments.
The most significant change in consumer habits is currently related to the suspension of the duty-free trade regime with the USA, which has led to a reduction in international postal shipments to the USA and within its territory by more than 70%, according to data from the Universal Postal Union. This is due to stricter border crossing conditions, customs procedures, and limited airport capacity. As a result, companies are seeking alternative destinations and new partners. However, no significant increase in the number of packages from China has been recorded in connection with the new customs policy of the USA.
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