# EU and French regulations on Chinese e-commerce imports > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-regulations-on-chinese-e-commerce-imports > Updated: 2026-09-09T10:31:04.000Z. Sources: 47. Developments: 5. New European Union customs regulations, effective July 1, 2026, have significantly impacted the volume of small package imports from China. By abolishing the previous customs exemption for goods valued up to 150 euros and replacing it with a flat fee of three euros per customs item category, the EU has triggered sharp declines in import volumes. In the Czech Republic, customs declarations dropped from over 10 million in June to just a few million in July. French customs data indicates a 30% to 40% decrease, with Temu reporting a 50% drop in sales. To mitigate these costs, Chinese retailers are shifting logistics strategies. Many are increasingly utilizing warehouses located within the EU, moving goods in bulk to undergo standard customs procedures and avoid the per-item fee at the point of delivery. Other importers are consolidating multiple items into larger shipments, as evidenced by Belgian data showing the average declared value rising from 5.73 euros to 10.85 euros. In addition to EU-wide measures, France has introduced specific environmental levies targeting ‘ultra-fast fashion’ products from platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. These fees, based on an ‘eco-score,’ could reach up to 12 euros per item. China has criticized these measures, with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce suggesting they may violate World Trade Organization principles. Further EU handling fees for small e-commerce shipments are expected by November 1, 2026, to cover monitoring and inspection costs. ## Claims - France has introduced a new levy on ultra-fast fashion items to target platforms like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The fashion levy could reach nearly 20 euros per item by 2030. (corroborated by 9 sources) - China's commerce ministry has called the French law discriminatory and a barrier to trade. (corroborated by 9 sources) - German furniture exports to the US have suffered a 15 percent loss due to tariffs. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Asian shopping platforms held a 5.3 percent market share of online retail in Germany in Q2 2024. (corroborated by 5 sources) - French Environment Minister Mathieu Lefevre stated that the harmful effects of ultra-fast fashion on the environment and economy are well documented. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Imports of small packages from China to the EU have fallen by 30% to 40% since the implementation of a 3 euro fee. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The German furniture industry saw a 2.7 percent decrease in revenue in the first half of 2026. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: European Union implements new customs fees on Chinese e-commerce imports New EU customs rules have introduced a 3-euro fee per item category for imports under 150 euros, causing a significant drop in low-value shipments from Chinese platforms like Temu and AliExpress. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eu-customs-fees-drive-decline-in-low-value-shipments-from-china ### 2026-09-06: EU customs fees trigger sharp decline in small parcel imports from China New EU customs fees on small parcels under 150 euros have caused a sharp decline in imports from China, with some regions seeing a 53% drop in small shipment declarations. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eu-customs-duties-reduce-small-chinese-shipments-by-half ### 2026-09-04: China criticizes France's new anti-fast fashion law China has warned France of potential countermeasures against its new anti-fast fashion law, claiming the environmental surcharge violates WTO non-discrimination rules. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-criticizes-frances-new-anti-fast-fashion-law ### 2026-09-02: EU customs fees trigger decline in Chinese e-commerce imports New EU customs fees on small parcels under 150 euros have caused a 30-40% drop in Chinese imports, with Temu and AliExpress seeing significant sales declines. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eu-customs-fee-on-small-parcels-reduces-chinese-imports ### 2026-09-02: France implements ultra-fast fashion levy amid Chinese trade threats France has launched an environmental levy on ultra-fast fashion platforms like Shein and Temu, sparking trade tensions with China, which calls the measure discriminatory. 32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-implements-ultra-fast-fashion-tax-targeting-shein-and-temu --- Cite as: EU and French regulations on Chinese e-commerce imports. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-regulations-on-chinese-e-commerce-imports