New fees on imported items

Since November, all categories of imported items are subject to a 2 euro fee, in addition to a 3 euro charge on small packages. This applies to all shipments arriving in the European Union from non-EU countries, specifically those made through "distance sales," which refers to online purchases.

Purpose of the fees

The fees are intended to fund customs controls aimed at managing the influx of Chinese products into the EU. This increase in imports is linked to concerns about counterfeit goods, unsafe products, and unfair competition affecting European businesses.

How the fees are calculated

The processing fees are applied per category of items in a package, not per item. For example, a package containing multiple types of goods, such as caps, t-shirts, and belts, will incur a fee based on the number of categories, not the total number of items.

Who pays the fees

According to European legislation, the fees are required to be paid by platforms, sellers, or their intermediaries. However, these costs may be passed on to consumers when they make a purchase. The European Consumer Organization (BEUC) has warned that postal services should not retroactively claim these fees from buyers.

Scale of the import challenge

In 2025, nearly 5.9 billion small packages entered the EU, more than 180 per second. This is four times the number from 2022, with 93% of these packages coming from China, often through online marketplaces like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.

Impact of the 3 euro tax

The 3 euro tax, introduced in July, has already had a noticeable effect, reducing the flow of small packages by about 64%. However, European officials caution that it is too early to determine the long-term impact of this measure on trade and consumer behavior.

Future changes to the fees

The 2 euro processing fees will be reviewed every two years to adjust for the changing costs of customs checks. Additionally, from July 1, 2028, a reduced version of the fee will apply to packages passing through specialized warehouses.

Transition to customs duties

The 3 euro tax will be replaced in July 2028 by standard European customs duties for small packages. This change aims to harmonize customs procedures across the EU, eliminating national-level fees that had previously existed in some member states.