# EU customs reforms and impact on trade > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-customs-reforms-and-impact-on-trade > Updated: 2026-10-19T04:30:00.000Z. Sources: 36. Developments: 6. The European Union has implemented customs reforms targeting the high volume of small e-commerce parcels entering the bloc. Effective July 1, 2026, a fixed temporary customs fee of €3 applies to every tariff line on parcels valued under €150. This measure is designed to cover administrative and processing costs for the billions of small goods arriving annually, much of which originates from China. These reforms have created significant operational hurdles for British exporters. While UK exports to the EU reached £385.3 billion in the year leading to May 2026, retailers are struggling with rising cross-border costs, including incorrect tariff classifications, customs administration, carrier handling fees, and inefficient returns. Data from the Office for National Statistics also noted a 4.7 per cent drop in goods export volumes in June 2026. Further regulatory developments are expanding the scope of these costs. Starting November 1, 2026, a two-euro processing fee will be applied to imports from third countries. Unlike the July duty, this fee applies to all internet shipments regardless of whether their value exceeds €150. Because these fees are applied per product category rather than per package, a single shipment containing items from three different categories could incur up to €15 in total fees. Following a decision by the European Commission, this fee will be paid by online e-commerce platforms—such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress—rather than European consumers. These measures have already begun to impact e-commerce flows. Following the July duty implementation, Belgium saw a 53% decrease and the Netherlands a 46% decrease in non-EU shipments. In France, the number of micro-parcels decreased by 30% to 40%, while the average value per parcel rose from €8.82 to €11.47. Sales for major platforms have also seen declines, with Temu sales dropping 50% and AliExpress 37% between June and July. ## Claims - The European Commission has proposed a two-euro processing fee for small shipments from non-EU countries. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The new fee is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2026. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The fee aims to cover rising costs associated with inspecting and processing the high volume of small parcels. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Approximately 90 percent of the six billion annual online parcels entering the EU originate from China. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The fee is part of a larger customs reform that includes the establishment of a new EU customs authority in Lille, France. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The two-euro processing fee will be applied in addition to the three-euro flat-rate customs duty implemented in July. (corroborated by 8 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-19: European Union introduces new customs fees for low-value imports The EU is adding a 2-euro per-item processing fee to low-value imports from November 1, 2026, increasing costs for platforms like Temu and Shein to manage high customs volumes. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-to-increase-import-fees-on-chinese-e-commerce-parcels ### 2026-10-16: European Union to increase import fees for Temu and Shein shoppers New EU customs rules will increase costs for non-EU online shopping. Starting November 2026, a 2-euro handling fee will be added to the existing 3-euro customs duty per product category. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-to-introduce-new-fees-for-non-eu-online-orders ### 2026-10-09: EU and Poland implement new customs and VAT rules for international e-commerce New EU and Polish regulations are transforming customs and VAT procedures for small international e-commerce parcels, introducing new fees and stricter controls on imports from outside the EU. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eu-and-poland-implement-new-customs-and-vat-rules-for-international-e-commerce ### 2026-09-24: European Commission introduces two-euro fee for non-EU online imports The EU will implement a two-euro handling fee for small online imports from non-EU countries starting November 1, 2026, targeting platforms like Temu and Shein to cover rising customs inspection costs. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/online-shoppers-face-higher-fees-due-to-new-eu-customs-charges ### 2026-09-18: European Union introduces new customs fees for e-commerce parcels The EU is introducing new customs fees and stricter regulations for e-commerce, including a three-euro fee for small parcels under 150 euros starting July 2026 to ensure fair market competition. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-introduces-new-customs-fees-for-e-commerce-parcels ### 2026-09-01: UK exporters face rising costs amid new EU customs regimes UK exporters face rising operational costs and customs duties following new EU import regimes, despite overall export growth and a rise in services exports. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-exporters-face-rising-costs-amid-new-eu-customs-regimes --- Cite as: EU customs reforms and impact on trade. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-customs-reforms-and-impact-on-trade