The European Union has introduced a €3 customs charge on low-value e-commerce imports, ending duty-free treatment for many online purchases worth up to €150 as part of a major overhaul of its customs system.
The new measure took effect on Wednesday and applies to goods imported into the EU from outside the bloc. It is expected to have a significant impact on Chinese online retailers, including Shein, Temu and AliExpress, which rely heavily on low-cost direct-to-consumer shipments.
Under the revised rules, customs authorities will apply the €3 charge to each separate customs classification within a shipment rather than to the parcel as a whole. As a result, a package containing different categories of products could incur multiple charges, while goods within the same classification will be charged only once.
EU officials said the reform updates customs regulations that have remained largely unchanged since 2008, when the €150 duty-free threshold was introduced to simplify the handling of small-value imports.
Officials said the rapid growth of global online shopping has dramatically increased the volume of low-value shipments entering the bloc. Lawmakers argued that the exemption, originally designed for a limited number of parcels, has allowed large e-commerce platforms to gain an unfair pricing advantage over European retailers.
The policy follows similar measures introduced by the United States, which has tightened duty-free import rules for low-value shipments as part of broader efforts to regulate cross-border e-commerce.
Industry analysts expect the new customs charge to reduce shipment volumes in the short term as retailers adjust their pricing strategies and supply chains. Many companies are expected to expand the use of European warehouses to lower distribution costs and minimise price increases for customers.
Shein has already increased warehouse capacity in Poland in preparation for the new rules, while AliExpress said applicable products will display prices that include customs duties and value-added tax (VAT). Amazon said most of its orders within the European Union are already fulfilled from warehouses located inside the bloc, although import charges will remain visible for products shipped from outside the EU.
The €3 customs charge is a temporary measure and will remain in force until July 1, 2028. It will then be replaced by a broader customs framework introducing standard category-based duties for low-value e-commerce imports under the EU’s new customs system.
