EU e‑commerce reforms add withdrawal button and impose €3 customs on low‑value parcels

The European Union will introduce two major e‑commerce reforms that take effect in 2026. Under the EU 2023/2673a directive, online sellers must provide a clearly visible “withdrawal” button that allows consumers to terminate contracts electronically. The button must be placed where the contract was concluded, remain accessible for the entire withdrawal period, and support a two‑step confirmation process. The rule applies to all online contracts, including digital services, SaaS, streaming platforms and financial services, regardless of the seller’s size, and is set to become enforceable in the Czech Republic from 19 June 2026.

In parallel, the EU will re‑introduce a temporary customs duty of €3 per item on parcels valued up to €150, shipped from third‑country sellers to EU consumers. The charge starts on 1 July 2026 and will remain in force until 1 July 2028, after which the Commission will assess its impact. The duty replaces the previous exemption for low‑value shipments and aims to level the playing field between EU retailers and overseas platforms, improve product safety controls, and raise revenue for EU budgets. In the Czech market, the fee is expected to raise the price of a typical low‑cost order from roughly 128 CZK to about 218 CZK, potentially cutting the volume of cheap Chinese parcels by up to 15 %. Domestic e‑shops may benefit from stronger competition on delivery speed and service, while online platforms will bear the administrative burden of calculating and displaying the new charge at checkout.