The European Union will introduce a new tax on billion small parcels, which largely coming from China. This will affect e-commerce platforms such as Lean And Shein.
The measure was born from the pressure of the Member States, whose customs struggle to manage the approximately 4.6 billion articles that come directly to European consumers every year.
The EU proposal
The idea of the European Commission, illustrated by the Commissioner to Commerce Maroš Šefčovičknown for starting the negotiations on duties with Donald Trump, provides for the introduction of a contribution of 2 euros for each package intended for the European market. A measure that will weigh on e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein. The announcement was made during an intervention to the European Parliament in Brussels.
The proposed tax would focus on the packages of declared value less than 150 euroscurrently exempt from customs duties. According to 2024 data, about 4.6 billion of low value shipments arrived in the EU, and 91% of these came from China.
The new tax will be paid by the online marketplace that directly manage sales and shipments, and is part of a broader picture of attention by the Commission on the Temu activities, already monitored for the presence of products that do not comply with European standards. Brussels’ goal is to guarantee Eque’s conditions of competition for all digital trade operators.
A fee of 0.50 euros is also coming
According to what reported by the Financial Times (which has viewed the draft of the provision during processing at the Commission), part of the revenue generated by the new tax will be destined to cover the costs of customs activities. They are in fact put to the test by the huge flow of small packages.
Another relevant part of the revenues, estimated at billions of euros on an annual basis, will instead serve to strengthen the European Union’s balance sheet. According to the British newspaper, in the draft it would be on purpose, in addition to the tax of 2 euros, one of 0.50 euros for articles sent to the warehouses.
But France asks for more
The initiative has already collected the consent of numerous Member States, in favor of an intervention that aims to rebalance the system and reduce pressure on European customs. Like the Francewho at the end of April had advanced the idea of introducing a “management fee” on each small package imported to Europe. Already in February, the European Commission had anticipated the intention to abolish the exemption from customs duties dating back to 2010. The risks related to the import of “dangerous products” and the environmental impact deriving from the enormous volume of shipments had been highlighted.
The French minister also stressed that the fee of 2 euros could Don’t be enough And he hoped for a review of the current exemption threshold, set at 150 euros. This revision, in addition to improving the tax revenues of the Member States, would guarantee that all imported products, even those of lower value, are subject to VAT.
The rise of Chinese online stores
In recent years, among the most popular Chinese giants for online purchases, Aliexpress, Temu and Shein, Fast Fashion platforms that offer clothing, footwear, technological, household items and textiles at extremely low prices.
Although numerous reports have emerged aimed at discouraging purchases on these sites, including the use of harmful materials and the working conditions Often criticized in the countries of production, this does not seem to stop European consumers. Indeed, the possibility of buying low -cost garments and products, often with free shipping, continues to grow the demand. With a few tens of euros, it is possible to fill new wardrobes and drawers of clothing, albeit often questionable quality, generating strong competition for European producers and sellers.