European Union finance ministers agreed on Friday, December 12, to impose a three-euro obligation on low-value imports into the bloc from July 2026.
Whereas the measure covers all imports from non-EU nations, it primarily targets the surge of low-cost Chinese language items ordered by means of platforms like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.
Greater than 145 parcels per second
Final yr, 4.6 billion small retail packages entered the European Union — greater than 145 per second — with 91 % originating in China and their numbers anticipated to maintain rising.
Beginning at three euros, the brand new price will apply as soon as per merchandise in instances the place packages include totally different merchandise, however solely as soon as in the event that they include multiples of the identical merchandise, a spokesperson for the European Council instructed AFP.
The transfer comes a month after the EU agreed to scrap an obligation exemption for parcels value lower than 150 euros (USD 174) imported on to customers within the 27-nation bloc, in lots of instances by way of Chinese language-founded platforms.
Transitional association
The levy will likely be launched on a short lived foundation beginning July 1, staying in place till the bloc can decide on a everlasting answer for taxing such imports.
“This non permanent measure responds to the truth that such parcels at the moment enter the EU obligation free, resulting in unfair competitors for EU sellers, well being and security dangers for customers, excessive ranges of fraud and environmental issues,” the Council, which represents EU member states, mentioned in a press release.
European retailers argue they face unfair competitors from abroad platforms, reminiscent of AliExpress, Shein and Temu, which they declare don’t all the time adjust to the EU’s stringent guidelines on merchandise.
Inside the EU, France has made the matter a precedence, given the round 800 million such packages shipped to the nation final yr and robust home stress to take motion. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure welcomed the flat tax as “a serious victory for the European Union”.
“Europe is taking concrete steps to guard its single market, its customers and its sovereignty,” he mentioned.
The transfer comes because the EU strives to bolster the continent’s competitiveness by making the lives of European companies simpler by means of slashing pink tape.
Alongside ending the obligation exemption, the EU government in Could proposed a small bundle dealing with price value two euros. EU member states have but to agree on the extent of that price, however hope it would apply from late 2026.
Fed up with ready, some states have already moved ahead with their very own plans, together with Romania, which has imposed a five-euro price on small parcels.
