The European Union is preparing a major change to online trade rules. Starting July 1, 2026, it will charge a fixed 3 euro customs fee on low-value parcels imported from outside the bloc, effectively ending the long-standing duty exemption for goods worth up to 150 euros.
The move is aimed at slowing the flood of cheap products from Asia, especially from platforms such as Shein and Temu. Under the new system, the fee will be based on product category rather than the number of items in a parcel. A package containing several different categories will be charged 3 euros for each category, while multiple identical items will face only one charge. Formally, the cost falls on sellers or importers, but officials expect it to be passed on to consumers.
The European Commission said the measure is temporary and non-discriminatory, applying equally to all source countries. It is set to remain in place until July 2028, when a new digital customs system is expected to allow more precise taxation based on full product classification. In addition, from November 2026, a handling fee of about 2 euros per parcel is expected to be added.
The market reaction has so far been cautious but alert. Companies are already reorganizing product classifications or shifting inventory into warehouses inside the EU to avoid the new charge, a change that could reshape supply chains and spur more logistics hubs in Europe. The decision is also pressuring Britain, which is outside the EU after Brexit, and major retailers there warn that without similar steps the country could become a dumping ground for redirected low-cost goods. The UK government is already considering scrapping its own 135 pound duty-free threshold and possibly accelerating its planned reform.
