Finance Ministers at the ECOFIN meeting approved a flat €3 customs duty on small parcels valued under €150 entering the EU, effective July 1, 2026. The measure aims to curb the surge in low-cost Chinese imports and level the playing field for EU retailers.
This decision removes the so-called “de minimis” exemption that previously allowed billions of parcels from platforms like Shein, Temu and AliExpress to enter duty-free—at an estimated annual revenue loss of €1 billion for the EU and rising concerns over unfair competition, product safety and environmental impact.
The duty applies per parcel rather than per item, so a single package containing multiple goods incurs only one charge. However, orders split into multiple shipments will multiply applied duties.
In 2024, around 4.6 billion parcels under €150 entered the EU—averaging 12 million parcels daily—with over 90 percent originating from China. This volume has doubled in recent years, prompting concerns over fraud, substandard imports and carbon-intensive shipping.
France’s Economy Minister, Roland Lescure, called the decision a “major victory for the European Union,” highlighting its role in combating undervalued goods and supporting local industries.
This is a temporary measure to be replaced by permanent customs reform agreed in November 2025, eliminating the €150 threshold entirely and enabling duties from the first euro—supported by a digital Customs Data Hub expected by 2028, with plans to accelerate implementation to 2026.
Some Member States, including Romania and Italy, have already introduced similar national measures—a €5 handling fee in Romania amongst them—whilst the US scrapped its $800 de minimis exemption in July 2025, redirecting e-commerce to Europe.
