End of the 150-euro threshold: EU decides on customs duty for cheap packages
From July 2026, ordering from online giants like Temu or Shein will be pricier. The EU introduces a flat fee for small shipments to ensure fair competition.
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The shopping spree on Chinese online marketplaces like Temu or Shein will soon become noticeably pricier and cumbersome for European consumers. The EU Council has given the final green light to a reform of customs regulations, which specifically targets the significantly grown e-commerce from third countries. The core point is the end of the previous customs exemption for small shipments valued at less than 150 euros. What was once intended to relieve customs authorities has, considering billions of package flows from the Far East, become a competitive disadvantage for European trade. Since 2022, the number of shipments has almost doubled annually: in 2024, around 4.6 billion small shipments arrived in the EU, over 90 percent of them from China.
Bureaucracy as a lever against the flood of parcels
The transition to the new system is being implemented in stages. Since the planned EU customs data platform is not yet fully operational, a transitional solution will initially apply from July 1, 2026: For shipments under 150 euros, a flat customs duty of 3 euros will be levied. The number of product categories within a package is decisive. The fee can therefore be levied multiple times if different product groups are included. For example, if you order different types of textiles in one shipment, you pay the flat rate per category. This regulation will apply at least until mid-2028. Thereafter, the new central data platform is scheduled to launch under the supervision of an EU customs authority. With it, flat rates will be replaced by regular customs duties that apply regardless of the value of the goods. The EU expects fairer competitive conditions and additional revenue for the budget as a result.
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The amendment is part of a broader reorganization of the European customs architecture in response to fragmented national procedures and changing trade flows. For consumers, many import bargains are likely to become more expensive, but politically, the step is considered necessary for market supervision, security, and fair competition. Additionally, a further processing fee is being discussed to cover the high costs of parcel handling. The enormous increase in volume in online retail has pushed existing control systems to their limits and exposed loopholes. In the future, providers from third countries will be subject to the same financial and administrative obligations as traders within the EU.
(mki)
