On 1 July, the European Union began charging a flat-rate customs duty of €3 on each category of goods in parcels valued under €150 arriving from outside the bloc. The measure immediately ends the de minimis exemption that had allowed low-value imports to enter duty-free, a regime originally designed for negligible volumes but now exploited by a surge in direct-to-consumer e-commerce. In 2025, 5.9 billion such parcels entered the EU, more than four times the 2022 figure, with over 90 per cent originating from China and sold through platforms like Shein, Temu and AliExpress.

The duty is not applied per parcel but per distinct tariff classification. A single package containing a T-shirt and a pair of sunglasses therefore incurs a €6 charge, while five identical shirts attract only €3. This structure mirrors the EU’s standard customs logic and is intended as a temporary fix until July 2028, when a new centralised digital customs hub is expected to allow the application of normal ad valorem duties—for example, 12 per cent on Chinese clothing—without overwhelming border agencies.

Viewed from Brussels, the levy addresses two pressures. First, European manufacturers and retailers have long argued that non-EU competitors benefit from lower labour and environmental standards, creating an uneven playing field. Second, customs authorities are unable to inspect more than a fraction of the 16 million daily parcels; EU-wide checks in 2025 found over 60 per cent of sampled toys, electronics and cosmetics failed to meet safety rules. The duty is formally owed by the importer, but platforms may pass the cost to consumers, either by raising prices or adding it at checkout. Consumer groups across the bloc have warned that buyers must be clearly informed of any extra charges before purchase.

National experiments with similar taxes have already exposed the limits of unilateral action. France introduced a €2 per-category levy in March 2025, but suspended it on 1 July after platforms rerouted an estimated 90 per cent of parcels through neighbouring countries to avoid the charge. Italy postponed its own €2 national contribution, first to July and then to October, amid industry warnings that it had caused a 50 per cent drop in parcel volumes at Italian entry points. Both governments now back a harmonised EU approach, though Rome’s handling fee, due in November, may still overlap with the bloc’s own planned €2 processing charge unless explicitly repealed.

The next concrete step is the introduction of a separate EU handling fee, expected in November, to help customs services cover the cost of processing the relentless flow. From November 2026, suppliers will also be required to provide detailed product reference data. The 2028 transition to standard duties remains the long-term horizon, but for now the €3 levy marks the most significant tightening of the bloc’s e-commerce border since the pre-internet era.