From 1 July, the European Union has introduced a new €3 customs duty on online shopping parcels worth less than €150 that are sent directly to consumers from countries outside the EU. The decision, agreed by EU Member States and backed by the European Commission, aims to create fairer competition between European retailers and overseas e-commerce platforms, while helping customs authorities manage the growing number of low-value imports entering the bloc.
Why the change
The rapid growth of international e-commerce has transformed the way Europeans shop. In recent years, millions of consumers have turned to online platforms such as Temu and Shein to purchase inexpensive clothing, household goods, cosmetics and toys directly from manufacturers outside the EU.
However, these purchases have largely benefited from a long-standing customs exemption, known as the de minimis rule, which allowed parcels valued below €150 to enter the EU without customs duties. According to the European Commission, imports of these low-value parcels increased dramatically from 1.3 billion in 2022 to almost 5.9 billion in 2025, with around 90% originating from China.
EU policymakers argue that this exemption gave overseas retailers a significant price advantage over European businesses. By introducing a flat €3 customs duty on each qualifying parcel, the EU hopes to level the playing field and encourage fairer competition between online imports and traditional retail.
The measure is intended as a temporary solution until the launch of the EU Customs Data Hub in 2028. This new digital system is expected to provide customs authorities with a more complete picture of goods entering and leaving the EU, making customs checks more efficient and improving the enforcement of trade rules.
Consumer safety
Alongside competitiveness concerns, EU research has raised alarm about the safety of goods arriving through this route. The Commission found that 60% of online products imported from outside the EU failed to comply with EU law.
Moreover, this customs duty is separate from another proposal currently under negotiation: an EU-wide handling fee on imported e-commerce parcels. Unlike the €3 customs charge, which addresses competitive fairness, the proposed handling fee would help cover the increasing administrative costs faced by customs authorities as they process billions of small parcels every year.
Not everyone is convinced
While many European retailers have welcomed the new rules, consumer groups and some shoppers have expressed concerns about their impact.
For consumers, the most immediate effect will be higher costs when ordering inexpensive products from outside the EU. A €3 charge represents only a small increase on expensive purchases, but it could significantly raise the overall price of very low-cost items, making bargains less attractive. Some critics argue that households already facing higher living costs will ultimately bear the burden of the new policy.
Others question whether the measure will achieve its intended objectives. Large online retailers may adapt by changing their supply chains, opening more distribution centres within the EU or shipping goods in different ways to reduce the impact of the customs duty. Indeed, companies such as Shein have already begun expanding their European logistics operations, suggesting that some businesses may be able to limit the effect of the new rules.
