The European Union introduced a temporary customs duty of three euros per item today on small parcels worth up to 150 euros imported from third countries. The measure aims to tackle unfair competition and strengthen safety checks on e-commerce products.
The duty will remain in place until 2028, when a full overhaul of the EU customs system is expected. It mainly affects purchases from popular Asian platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress, though it may also apply to orders from other third countries, including the US and the UK, depending on the supplier.
How the duty is applied
The three-euro duty is charged per product category within each parcel. This means that if an order includes different types of products, each category is charged separately.
For example, a parcel containing a top and shoes would be charged six euros in total duty, whilst multiple units of the same item remain charged at three euros. In other cases, a parcel with four different products could be charged 12 euros, and larger orders with many items could see a significant rise in final cost, before VAT is added.
Who is affected and why
The measure targets the sharp rise in small e-commerce shipments from outside the EU, which have surged to billions of parcels annually in recent years, the majority originating from China.
According to the European Union, the previous zero-duty regime for parcels up to 150 euros created unfair competition for European businesses whilst limiting the ability to carry out effective safety and compliance checks. The authorities also note that a large number of parcels entered the market with inaccurate value declarations or without adequate checks, increasing the risk of non-compliant or dangerous products.
Impact on consumers and platforms
Consumers are expected to see higher final costs on their online purchases, particularly for low-value orders. A 20-euro order, for example, could exceed 25 or 30 euros depending on the number of different products involved.
In some cases, additional handling fees will be added in future, which the EU is considering as part of the wider customs reform.
Platforms will have the option either to absorb the cost or pass it on to consumers. Several major e-commerce providers already operate through the IOSS system, which facilitates the collection of VAT and duties at the point of purchase.
Wider system changes
The EU is also pursuing a deeper reform of its customs framework, aimed at abolishing the 150-euro threshold and creating a single digital control system by 2028.
Under the new framework, e-commerce platforms will be treated as “deemed importers,” taking on greater legal responsibility for the safety and compliance of products they sell in the European market.
Goal: a fairer and safer market
According to European authorities, the measure aims both to protect consumers and to ensure a level playing field for European businesses.
It is also expected to ease customs checks by reducing the volume of individual small parcels and strengthening the ability to identify non-compliant products entering the EU.