The era of ultra-cheap parcels from China to Europe is drawing to a close as the European Union introduces new customs rules to curb what Brussels considers unfair competition. From 1 July 2026, a flat customs duty of 3 euros will apply to all goods entering the EU with a declared value of up to 150 euros. The measure primarily targets the flood of low-cost e-commerce shipments from Chinese platforms such as AliExpress, Shein and Temu.
EU officials argue that the current system, which allows such low-value goods to enter largely duty-free, has distorted the single market and disadvantaged European retailers. In 2024, 91% of the 4.6 billion small parcels entering the EU originated in China. Last year alone, 5.8 billion parcels valued at up to 150 euros were imported into member states, marking a 26% annual increase. The volume is equivalent to roughly one parcel per EU citizen per month.
Greece offers a telling snapshot of the trend, with an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 parcels arriving in the country each day, averaging 30 to 35 euros in declared value. In 2025, the total daily turnover of these imports is believed to have reached 2.1 million euros.
The new duty will apply to goods sold by non-EU sellers registered under the EU's Import One Stop Shop system for VAT payments, covering around 93% of e-commerce flows into Europe. The charge will be calculated per tariff category within a single parcel. For example, if a package contains a silk blouse and two woollen blouses, the recipient will pay 3 euros for the silk category and another 3 euros for the woollen category, for a total of 6 euros. Add an electronic gadget, and the duty rises to 9 euros, regardless of the items' low initial price. Parcels containing three or four different product categories could face charges of 9 or even 12 euros, making cut-price online shopping from China significantly less attractive.
