Overview
- EU trade chief Maros Šefčovič urged finance ministers in a letter to adopt a simplified temporary customs charge and accelerate IT links to implement it.
- The push targets low-value packages from platforms such as Shein, Temu and Alibaba, which currently face no levy below €150 when shipped directly to EU consumers.
- A draft statement seen by AFP says ministers aim to craft an interim solution for rollout as soon as possible in 2026, with a plan due for approval on December 12.
- The Commission’s earlier proposal set a €2 flat fee from 2028, so the new timeline would bring the measure forward by more than two years.
- Several member states have moved on their own, with Romania already imposing a €5 fee on small parcels.