EU to charge 3 € per tariff line on low‑value parcels from outside the bloc from July 2026

Starting 1 July 2026 the European Union will end the “de‑minimis” exemption for parcels valued up to 150 €, introducing a flat €3 customs fee for each tariff‑line of goods in a shipment from outside the EU. The charge applies to all 27 member states and targets the massive flow of cheap online orders from countries such as China that currently evade duties. The fee is calculated per product category, not per package, so a single parcel containing items from three different tariff codes will incur €9 in fees. The EU Commission says the measure will curb customs fraud, protect EU retailers, improve product safety and reduce environmental impact from excessive small‑parcel traffic. National handling fees, such as Romania’s 25 lei per parcel, will continue alongside the EU fee until a community‑wide handling charge is introduced, likely by November 2026. Platforms like Shein, Temu, AliExpress and others are expected to pass the cost on to consumers. The temporary scheme runs until 1 July 2028, after which normal customs duties based on product type will apply.