EU plans processing fee for cheap parcels from online retailers

According to the EU states, the online trading platforms are responsible for the payment - i.e. not the end consumers in Europe. However, corresponding fees have already been passed on by retailers to consumers in the past. The new rules are likely to affect online retailers such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.

Fight against mass imports of cheap products

The EU wants to use the fee to combat the flood of cheap packages. According to the EU states, in 2025 European customs offices processed around six billion parcels from online retailers. 90 percent of them came to the EU from China. The tax is intended to cover the increasing costs caused by the growing number of small shipments from online trading, such as inspection and inspection during import.

The new processing fee is part of a larger customs reform. Further measures are intended to facilitate global trade, collect tariffs more efficiently and tighten controls on non-compliant, dangerous or unsafe goods. Among other things, a new EU customs authority is being created, which is due to start work in Lille, France, next year.

Since July, customs duties have also been due on cheap goods from abroad. A flat rate of three euros is charged per product group in the shipment. Europe-wide data on how parcel numbers have changed since then is not yet known. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs there, up to 40 percent fewer small packages were imported into France in the first few weeks.

The flat rate tariff is intended as a transitional solution until a new digital platform for processing and control is launched in 2028 and then all goods imported into the EU will be subject to customs duties from the first euro.

Packages of cheap goods from China are flooding the European market. The EU Commission now wants to curb platforms like Temu and Shein. Read here why consumer advocates fear that little will improve for customers.