EU to Charge Handling Fees on Small E-commerce Packages, Import Volume Surges 26% Annually

The European Commission said on Monday, January 26, that the number of small e-commerce packages entering the EU in 2025 reached 5.8 billion, a 26% increase from the previous year. In the current situation where low-cost goods can still enter the EU duty-free, the EU is planning to charge fees for such small packages to cope with the surge in imports.

According to Reuters, under current regulations, the EU implements a "de minimis" system for small packages with declared values below 150 euros, exempting them from duties. This policy has driven the rapid expansion of e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein, which often ship goods directly from China to European consumers.

Dirk Gotink, a member of the European Parliament and head of the EU tariff reform negotiations, stated that the large and continuous influx of small packages into Europe has made the current system unsustainable. In a statement, he pointed out that this situation highlights the necessity of taking immediate action, including charging handling fees on small packages by July this year and completing the relevant tariff reforms in the following months.

According to the EU's plan, starting from July 1, a handling fee of 3 euros per imported small package will be charged as a temporary measure before a final agreement is reached to abolish the exemption policy.

After the US abolished its duty-free policy for low-value packages last year, a large amount of cheap Chinese goods shifted to the European market, causing concern among EU authorities.

The European Commission previously stated that about 65% of small packages entering the EU are undervalued in their declared value to avoid tariffs. Additionally, the Commission warned that a large number of goods not meeting EU standards may pose safety risks to consumers and could impact the EU's domestic industries, especially the retail sector.

Reuters noted that most of the e-commerce small packages entering the EU come from China.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1855434897485000/

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