EU imposes 3‑euro flat customs fee on low‑value packages from non‑EU

From 1 July the European Union will charge a flat €3 customs fee per product category on parcels under €150 that arrive from non‑EU countries. The measure ends the previous exemption for small shipments and is intended to create a fairer competitive environment for European retailers by making the cost of the massive influx of low‑value imports – about 5.8 billion parcels in 2025, or 15.9 million per day – visible to consumers and EU budgets.

Trade groups welcome the step, with Rainer Will of the independent Handelsverband saying the fee is “an important step so Europe is no longer the toll‑house of global online trade”. The fee applies to all non‑EU sellers, including Asian platforms such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress, as well as shipments from the UK, Switzerland and the US. Platforms are already adapting by using European warehouses and bulk sea shipments, which limits the immediate price impact on shoppers, but the cost is expected to be passed on to consumers in many cases.