Overview
- Ecofin is expected today to give political approval to abolish the duty-free threshold for extra‑EU parcels under €150 and move the file into trilogue.
- Officials aim to conclude negotiations by year‑end, but full EU rollout is tied to the EU Customs Data Hub, currently targeted for 2028.
- Italy’s economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti proposes a bridge rule to block the exemption from 1 January 2026, with the measure potentially entering the 2026 budget.
- A fixed per‑shipment charge around €1 on small extra‑EU parcels is under discussion at EU level, while France is weighing a €2 eco‑tax as a national measure.
- Supporters cite a surge of low‑value imports—about 4.6 billion parcels in 2024, roughly 91% from China—arguing the changes would address ultra fast fashion and unfair competition.