The arrival of small imported packages at Liège airport, a major European hub for online shopping, dropped by 53% in July compared to July of the previous year, according to data from Belgian customs. This sharp decline is linked to a new European tax that took effect on July 1st. The tax adds a three-euro fee for each category of item in small packages valued under 150 euros. It was introduced to replace a French tax that had been widely avoided and aims to reduce the flow of mainly Chinese products sold on sites like Shein, Temu, or AliExpress, which often fail to meet European safety and quality standards. The goal is to better protect consumers from unsafe products and help European businesses compete fairly, as these small packages had previously been exempt from customs duties. Belgian customs reported that the new tax has worked as intended. The average value of imported small packages has nearly doubled, rising above 10 euros. This suggests that both e-commerce platforms and their customers have adjusted to the new rules. Economy Minister David Clarinval and Finance Minister Jan Jambon highlighted that the early results show a significant drop in very low-value shipments, a boost in government revenue, and an improved ability to detect and stop dangerous, non-compliant, or fake products from entering the market. In 2025, nearly 5.9 billion small packages were delivered across Europe—more than 180 per second. This represents a fourfold increase compared to 2022, with 93% of these packages coming from China. While a full European assessment is still pending, the Belgian data aligns with trends observed in other European countries. French customs estimate that the overall importation of small packages across the EU has decreased by 30 to 40% since the tax was implemented. The new tax is part of a broader effort to regulate the booming e-commerce sector and address concerns about product safety and fair competition. While it has led to a noticeable drop in low-value imports, it also raises questions about how it will affect consumer behavior and the global supply chain. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to ensure that the policy achieves its goals without causing unintended disruptions.