Romania's new logistics and customs fees increase cost of Temu and Shein parcels

From 1 January 2026 Romania will charge a fixed national logistics tax of 25 lei on every parcel from outside the EU valued under €150. Starting 1 July 2026 the EU's exemption on customs duties for low‑value goods will end and a transitional €3 fee will be applied for each distinct product category in a parcel. The two charges can be cumulative, so a mixed‑goods shipment could see the "Temu tax" rise to around 70 lei.

Experts from EY Romania explained that the new rules “modify the total import cost structure for small‑value parcels by adding fixed and cumulative components, reducing the price advantage of non‑EU trade.” The Romanian AUR party has introduced a Senate proposal to eliminate the logistics tax, arguing it harms local businesses. Meanwhile, neighboring Moldova plans to apply a standard 20 % VAT on all imports, including those from platforms such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress, beginning October 2026, as stated by Finance Minister Adrian Gavriliță.

These measures aim to level the playing field between domestic retailers and fast‑growing Chinese e‑commerce platforms by ensuring tax contributions on cross‑border purchases.