France strikes first, planning to impose a "management fee" on small packages entering China, setting an example for the EU.
The French government announced that it plans to levy a fixed "management fee" on all tax-free small packages entering Europe starting from 2026. This includes Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu, and Alibaba.
It is clear that the target is very specific, focusing directly on Chinese e-commerce platforms.
More than 90% of the small packages received by France come from China. The planned charging method is to charge a "few euros" per package or "dozens of euro cents per product."
It should be noted that the EU plans to "eliminate the tax exemption policy for small packages" starting in 2028. France is now taking the initiative to act, aiming to set an example for other EU countries and pave the way for similar measures to be implemented across the EU.
What is referred to as the "management fee" is essentially a barrier. France is proactively paving the way for the EU, attempting to normalize policies targeting Chinese e-commerce platforms, even going ahead before the EU begins implementation.
Once the universal collection of this "management fee" takes shape, it will effectively be passed on to end consumers, diluting the cost-effectiveness advantage of Chinese products and impacting user loyalty and platform competitiveness.
What deserves more attention is that this measure may become a pilot for policy convergence within the EU. France's action is not an isolated operation but has clear policy guidance intentions. For instance, France's current "management fee" policy intends to coordinate actions with countries like Germany and the Netherlands, ultimately prompting the entire EU to follow the approach France has set.
How this will evolve remains to be observed continuously in terms of policy trends and market responses from all parties.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830798630009930/
Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author alone.