Finance ministers of the European Union countries agreed on Friday to introduce a €3 fee on low-value parcels arriving in EU countries, predominantly from China, starting July 1, 2026.
This fee will be temporary and will be in effect until 2028, when customs duties will begin to apply to all goods imported into the EU, regardless of their value.
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure positively assessed the introduction of the new fee, calling it a major victory for the European Union. According to him, Europe is taking concrete steps to protect its single market, consumers, and sovereignty.
European retailers claim they are facing unfair competition from foreign online platforms such as AliExpress, Shein, and Temu, which they believe often do not comply with the strict EU requirements for the trade of goods.
Currently, the EU has a duty-free regime for parcels valued up to €150 that are imported directly to end consumers, often through Chinese platforms like Temu and Shein.
According to data from the European Commission, last year, 4.6 billion parcels valued at up to €150 were imported into the EU — more than 12 million shipments per day. Of these, 91% of all such small parcels in 2024 came from China.
