EU parcel fee hits Czech consumers as 3‑euro charge on cheap Chinese e‑commerce orders starts

From 1 July the European Union will apply a flat €3 (about 75 CZK) fee to each individual item in parcels valued up to €150 that come from non‑EU countries. The measure targets low‑cost shipments from Asian online marketplaces such as AliExpress, Temu and Shein, which have become popular in the Czech Republic for their very cheap prices.

Czech shoppers reported at a self‑service parcel locker that the new rule could triple the price of an item compared with domestic retailers. Officials said the charge is calculated per item, not per parcel, based on a “consumer basket” definition. E‑commerce operators are already discussing ways to work around the fee, while industry representatives warned that a €3 charge alone will not eliminate the competitive disadvantage faced by local businesses.

The regulation aims to level the playing field for EU retailers by removing the tax‑free advantage that small, low‑value imports currently enjoy.