EU customs duty on low‑value Chinese parcels to raise Czech prices by up to 70%

From 1 July 2026 the European Union will apply a fixed €3 customs charge for each tariff item in shipments valued up to €150 that enter the EU from non‑EU countries. The fee is calculated per individual product category, not per package, and is added to the standard 21 % VAT.

In the Czech Republic, the average low‑value parcel from platforms such as Temu, Shein or AliExpress costs about CZK 120–130. The new duty translates to roughly CZK 73 plus VAT, increasing the price of a single‑item order from CZK 128 to about CZK 218 – an approximate 70 % rise. Orders containing two or three different items see costs climb to around CZK 308 and CZK 400 respectively.

The rule applies based on the date the goods physically enter the EU, not the order date, meaning shipments ordered before July 2026 but cleared after that date are also subject to the charge. EU policymakers present the measure as a step toward leveling the market, arguing that domestic retailers must meet stricter safety, certification, warranty and ESG requirements, whereas many low‑price imports from China have evaded such controls.