EU imposes 3‑euro customs fee on low‑cost orders from Shein, Temu, AliExpress

The European Union will introduce a fixed customs charge of €3 per item on shipments from outside the bloc beginning 1 July 2026, ending the current exemption for parcels valued up to €150. The fee applies to each distinct product category in a parcel, meaning a single order containing different types of goods (e.g., clothing, phone accessories, jewelry) could incur multiple €3 charges. Platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress, which have popularised cheap imports from China, are directly affected.

The duty is collected from the customs declarant – typically the carrier – and may be passed on to consumers. VAT rules remain unchanged; sellers using the IOSS system still charge VAT at the point of sale. EU officials say the measure aims to curb unfair competition and improve product safety, noting that 91 % of the roughly 12 million small parcels entering the EU daily originate from China. “Produkty z týchto platforiem opakovane neprechádzajú bezpečnostnými testami,” said David Chmelař, CEO of Heureka Group.

Although Serbia is not an EU member, experts warn that goods transiting through European distribution centres could see higher logistics costs, indirectly affecting Serbian consumers. In 2024 the EU recorded 4.6 billion such parcels, underscoring the broad impact of the new rule.