EU raises 3‑Euro customs fee on low‑value imports from July 1

From 1 July the European Union will apply a flat €3 customs charge to parcels whose value is under €150 when they are shipped from outside the bloc. The fee, known as a “low‑value import” charge, is intended to curb cheap overseas shipments and reduce the surge of small packages arriving from countries such as China. Consumers buying items such as headphones, phone cases, clothing or fashion accessories from non‑EU online retailers will see the total price rise, sometimes more than doubling the original cost.

The new rule, reported in German media, will affect anyone in the EU who orders goods from merchants located outside the single market. Sellers will need to collect the charge at checkout, and the additional cost is expected to impact price‑sensitive shoppers and could shift demand toward EU‑based suppliers.