The European Union (EU) has begun implementing new customs duties on low-value e-commerce products imported from China. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the new regulations aim to eliminate the uneven competitive landscape created by online sales platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.
The changes, which came into effect on Wednesday, mean that parcels previously exempt from customs duties because their value was below 150 euros will now be subject to payment. Under the new system, duties will be calculated based on the customs classification of the shipment rather than per parcel. A fee of 9 euros has been set for parcels containing three different types of products, while a 3-euro fee applies to parcels where products of the same category predominate.
EU officials argue that the previous preferential system was no longer suitable for modern market conditions, given the rapid growth of online trade. Dirk Gotink, a leading member of the European Parliament on customs reform, stated that foreign companies operating in the EU market were abusing previous exemptions. Statistical data indicates that the number of low-value e-commerce parcels entering the EU rose from 1.4 billion in 2022 to 5.8 billion in 2025.
Industry experts predict that the new duties could reduce the volume of goods transported to Europe by air by 10 to 35 percent. At the same time, it is expected that these additional costs will impact product prices, leading to higher costs for consumers. The 3-euro duty is currently temporary and will be replaced by a new customs system based on categories once the EU's new Customs Authority begins operations in July 2028.
In response to the regulations, Shein has expanded its warehousing capacity in Poland to adapt to the new rules. AliExpress has announced that products with duties and VAT included in the price will be specially marked. Meanwhile, Amazon reported that 97 percent of orders received in the EU last year were already fulfilled from warehouses within the union.
This regulatory shift reflects the broader EU strategy to protect its internal market from an influx of cheap, non-compliant goods and to ensure a level playing field for European businesses competing against global e-commerce giants.
