Overview
- ECOFIN agreed to replace the small‑parcel exemption with a simple, uniform levy on shipments valued under €150 entering the bloc.
- The charge applies to imports from all non‑EU countries, with officials seeking to curb a flood of cheap goods sold via platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.
- The arrangement is designed as a transitional regime through July 2028 while a customs data platform and full-duty collection system are put in place.
- A separate €2 processing fee proposed by the European Commission could begin in November 2026, and some member states have signaled national handling charges.
- Officials cited scale and enforcement limits—about 4.6 billion sub‑€150 parcels entered in 2024, roughly 91% from China—and said practical collection details are still to be finalized.