EU member states have agreed to scrap a long-standing duty exemption on low-value parcels in a move aimed at curbing the surge of inexpensive imports from China-based retail platforms such as Temu and Shein.
The 27-nation bloc currently waives customs duties on goods worth less than 150 euros ($174) imported directly by consumers, a loophole that has allowed billions of small packages to enter the EU duty-free.
In 2023 alone, 4.6 billion such parcels arrived — more than 145 every second — with 91 percent originating from China. The EU expects those numbers to keep rising.
Member states, including France, and the European Commission want the exemption scrapped by early next year, rather than waiting until 2028. Officials said they are now working on “a simple, temporary solution to enable earlier implementation as soon as possible.”
European retailers have long complained that online platforms like AliExpress, Shein, and Temu enjoy an unfair advantage because many of their products bypass the bloc’s strict safety and consumer protection rules.
“Reaching a political agreement sends a strong signal that Europe is serious about fair competition and about defending the interests of its businesses,” said EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. “Europe must be able to protect its borders effectively and uphold fair competition.”
France, which received around 800 million such parcels last year, has been among the strongest advocates for reform. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure hailed the decision, saying Paris’s push “paid off.”
“This is a key step for the protection of European consumers and the internal market,” Lescure told AFP. “We have taken a major step for the economic sovereignty of the European Union.”
The decision follows the EU executive’s proposal in May for a small package handling fee of two euros per parcel, though member states have yet to agree on the rate. The charge is expected to take effect by late 2026.
Several countries are already moving ahead with national measures. Romania, for instance, has imposed its own five-euro fee on small parcels.