European Union introduces new customs fees for Temu and Shein

The European Union is implementing new customs charges and taxes targeting Chinese e-commerce platforms Temu and Shein. While a temporary tax of 3 euros per product category has been in effect since July 1, a new management fee of up to 2 euros is being introduced for small shipments sent directly to consumers. If fully adopted, the total cost for a direct package could reach 5 euros.

To mitigate these costs, the EU proposal offers a significantly lower fee of just 0.50 euros for shipments processed through warehouses located within the EU. This creates a strong incentive for companies like Temu and Shein to relocate their inventory to European soil. Additionally, starting November 1, product identification codes will become mandatory on all import declarations.

The Council of the EU has postponed the implementation of the specific management fee until November 2026. The situation draws comparisons to a previous attempt in Italy, where a national 2-euro tax on packages under 150 euros failed to increase state revenue as expected, as logistics providers simply rerouted shipments through cities like Liege, Amsterdam, and Budapest to bypass the charges.