EU tariffs curb cheap Asian e‑commerce, Poles cut Temu, Shein, AliExpress

From 1 July the European Union ended the customs exemption for parcels valued up to €150, imposing a flat €3 fee on each item in such shipments for a two‑year transition. The measure aims to level the market between Asian direct‑to‑consumer platforms and EU sellers.

A survey of Polish consumers found that 42.2 % have reduced purchases on Temu, Shein and AliExpress, while 15.5 % say their habits are unchanged and 32.8 % never used those sites. The fee’s impact is reflected in platform usage data: Temu’s Polish user base fell from 16.68 million in June to 13.1 million in July, and AliExpress dropped from 9.97 million to 8.43 million over the same period. Analysts note the added cost erodes the price advantage of cheap Asian goods and may force the platforms to restructure logistics, such as establishing distribution centres inside the EU.