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EU to apply a 3-euro customs duty to e-commerce parcels under 150 euros

Dec 19, 2025 European Union

A 3-euro customs duty is to be introduced on low-value parcels arriving in the European Union. This move is part of a strategy to reduce the influx of cheap e-commerce imports, such as those sold by online retailers Shein and Temu

The European member states have reached a political agreement to introduce a temporary customs duty of 3 euros per item on e-commerce parcels valued below 150 euros, starting on the 1^st of July 2026. If a parcel contains multiple items of the same product, the tax will only be applied once. However, if the parcel contains different products, the 3-euro custom will be applied to each item.

The European Commission has welcomed the decision and is working with the Council of the European Union to enable the implementation of this temporary measure through the necessary legal amendments and by ensuring an effective IT framework.

This move is part of a collective effort to remove the competitive advantage enjoyed by non-EU e-commerce operators over European businesses. “This temporary measure responds to the fact that such parcels currently enter the EU duty-free, leading to unfair competition for EU sellers, health and safety risks for consumers, high levels of fraud and environmental concerns”, the Council said.

Although the bloc was not scheduled to remove the exemption until 2028 as part of a renovation of its customs system, the pressure to act faster has grown amid concerns about the influx of cheap Chinese goods from online retailers such as Shein, AliExpress and Temu. According to the European Commission, an estimated 4.6 billion low-value shipments entered the EU in 2023, 91% of which originated from China.

Handling Fee

Separately, a proposed 2-euro handling fee has also been suggested to compensate for the increasing costs incurred by customs authorities in managing the large volume of parcels. According to local media reports, the Netherlands is applying its own 2-euro fee independently of the EU’s decision. However, it is not yet clear when the others will follow.

For this measure to become mandatory for all member states, it still needs to be approved by the Council and the European Parliament as part of the EU customs reform currently under discussion. This reform is planned for implementation in November 2026.

Image Credits: en.politis.com.cy

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