EU introduces 3‑Euro customs levy curbing cheap Chinese e‑commerce shipments

The European Union has implemented a minimum €3 customs charge on all small parcels (valued under €150) arriving from non‑EU countries. The fee is applied per distinct customs tariff line, so orders containing several different items can incur multiple charges. The measure raises the landed cost of goods from platforms such as Temu and Shein; a purchase that previously cost about €21 can now cost roughly €37.

The new levy has triggered a sharp decline in Chinese‑origin shipments to Europe. Logistics operators report a drop of around 20 % in parcel volume, equating to over a billion fewer packages out of the roughly 5.8 billion small shipments handled annually. At the Liège‑Lüttich airport hub, more than 1.1 billion e‑commerce parcels were processed last year, a figure already exceeding previous records. While the fee aims to stem the flood of low‑value imports, analysts note that its long‑term impact remains uncertain as Chinese sellers explore EU‑based warehousing and other work‑arounds.