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5mo ago

France Introduces Handling Fee on Non-EU Parcels to Fund Customs Inspections

The fee, starting in 2026, targets e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu and seeks to address safety concerns and unfair competition while paving the way for EU-wide customs reforms.

Le ministre de l'Économie Éric Lombard (2e à gauche) s'entretient avec des douaniers français aux côtés de la ministre chargée des Comptes publics, Amélie de Montchalin (centre), de la ministre déléguée au Commerce Véronique Louwagie (2e à droite) et de la secrétaire d'État chargée de l'IA et du numérique, Clara Chappaz (1ère à droite), dans un entrepôt de l'aéroport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, le 29 avril 2025
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Overview

  • France will implement a flat-rate handling fee of a few euros per parcel on low-value imports from non-EU countries starting next year.
  • The fee will be paid by e-commerce platforms, not consumers, and will fund customs checks and safety inspections at entry points.
  • The policy aims to address the influx of low-value parcels, with 4.6 billion such packages entering the EU in 2024, 91% from China, including 800 million into France.
  • French officials are lobbying for an EU-wide mechanism to prevent package flows circumventing national fees ahead of planned customs reforms in 2028.
  • The Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME) has called for urgent action, citing the impact of cheap imports on local businesses.