EU imposes 3‑euro customs duty on low‑value Chinese parcels, shoppers find workarounds

From 1 July 2026 the European Union will levy a €3 customs duty on parcels valued under €150 that arrive from non‑EU countries, chiefly China. The measure is presented as protecting consumers, EU retailers and health standards, but critics argue its impact will be limited.

Chinese e‑commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein have responded by expanding warehouses across Europe—Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and others—so that up to 80 % of orders are shipped from EU stock and avoid the duty. Similar tactics are used by other sellers, for example TikTok’s European shops in Poland, and many listings now carry a “no import duties” label when the goods are dispatched from a local depot.

Consumer authorities in Slovenia and Croatia note that buyers can also avoid the charge by ordering items already positioned in an EU warehouse. Parallel discussions in the EU include stricter verification for high‑value purchases, but the immediate focus remains on the new low‑value customs charge and the ways retailers and shoppers are bypassing it.