The European Union has introduced a €3 customs charge on low-value e-commerce imports, ending duty-free treatment for many online orders worth up to €150 in a move aimed at reshaping cross-border online trade and addressing concerns over unfair competition.
The measure, which took effect Wednesday, applies to low-value goods entering the EU from outside the bloc and is expected to significantly impact Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress, which rely heavily on low-cost direct-to-consumer shipping.
Under the new system, the €3 charge applies to each separate customs classification within a shipment rather than the parcel as a whole.
As a result, a single package containing multiple categories of products could incur several charges, while items falling under one classification would be charged once.
EU officials said the decision is designed to modernize customs rules that have remained largely unchanged since 2008, when the €150 duty-free threshold was introduced to reduce administrative burdens on small shipments.
However, the rapid expansion of global online shopping has led to a sharp increase in low-value imports entering the bloc.
Lawmakers involved in customs reform said the exemption, originally intended for a much smaller volume of trade, has increasingly been used on an industrial scale by large online platforms, creating price advantages over European retailers.
The policy shift comes amid broader international pressure on low-cost import models. The United States has already removed similar duty-free exemptions for Chinese imports and later extended restrictions to all imports, tightening global rules on cross-border e-commerce.
Industry analysts expect the new EU charge to temporarily reduce e-commerce shipment volumes as companies adjust their pricing strategies and supply chains.
Some platforms are likely to shift toward bulk shipping into European warehouses to reduce per-item costs and limit price increases for consumers.
Shein has already expanded warehouse capacity in Poland as part of its preparation for the new rules. However, neither Shein nor Temu immediately commented on the change.
AliExpress has indicated that applicable products will display pricing that includes duties and VAT, while other listings will show a full breakdown of import costs before checkout.
Amazon said the majority of its EU orders are already fulfilled from within the bloc, though import charges will still be displayed for products shipped from outside the EU.
The €3 customs duty is a temporary arrangement and will remain in place until July 1, 2028. It will then be replaced by a broader customs framework introducing standard category-based duties for e-commerce imports under a new EU customs system.
