U‑Freight Reports EU Customs Charge Driving E‑Commerce Supply Chain Shift

The European Union eliminated the €150 de minimis threshold for low‑value imports, applying a temporary €3 customs charge per commodity code to parcels valued at €150 or less. The measure took effect on 1 July 2026 and is expected to remain until at least 1 July 2028 as part of a broader customs reform.

U‑Freight Group says the new regime is raising costs and administrative burden for businesses that ship direct‑to‑consumer parcels into the EU. CEO Simon Wong warned that models based on low‑value cross‑border shipments now face higher fees, longer clearance times and increased complexity. Companies are reassessing product classifications, shipping profiles and inventory placement.

According to U‑Freight, many e‑commerce firms are moving inventory closer to European customers. Local fulfillment is overtaking direct cross‑border shipments in markets such as Spain, France and Poland, with regional distribution seen as a way to minimise customs costs, improve delivery speed and enhance supply‑chain resilience.