EURATEX seeks 10 euro handling fee for non-EU small parcels

The European textile and clothing industry, led by EURATEX, has called on the European Commission to implement a 10 euro handling fee for small parcels arriving from outside the EU. This request, made during a trade fair near Paris, aims to address the operational costs incurred by customs authorities when processing the high volume of small shipments from Asian e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.

Industry representatives argue that current measures are insufficient. While a temporary 3 euro customs duty applies to parcels valued under 150 euros, EURATEX suggests a higher fee to reflect the true costs of the business models used by these platforms. They also proposed that the revenue generated from such fees should be used to strengthen customs controls rather than being absorbed into the general EU budget.

The textile sector in Europe accounts for approximately 1.2 million jobs. Proponents of the fee argue it is not a penalty but a way to account for the real costs of managing the influx of low-cost goods that create challenges for fair competition and environmental standards.