EU taxes low-value parcels from AliExpress, Shein, and Temu
Customers of Temu, AliExpress, and Shein will no longer be exempt from customs charges, regardless of how much they pay.
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Starting July 1st, 2026, parcels from non-EU e-commerce platforms (like Temu, AliExpress, and Shein) valued under €150 are charged €3 per item category.
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The duty runs until July 1st, 2028, and is designed to address the unfair advantage non-EU sellers had over EU businesses, as well as the surge in low-value parcels.
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Public reaction is mixed, with many shoppers unlikely to change their habits.
Customers in the EU who order from e-commerce sites outside the EU, such as Temu, AliExpress, and Shein, will now have to pay a customs charge.
Starting July 1st, 2026, parcels valued at less than €150 ($171) will be subject to a €3 ($3.4) custom tax per item from a different category.
For example, if a parcel contains two items from different categories, for example, a t-shirt and a watch, a €6 customs duty will be applied. If a parcel contains multiple items from the same category (three t-shirts), the buyer will have to pay a €3 customs tax, according to the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm.
It’s also been noted that “the seller or importer will be responsible for declaring and paying the duty.”
The custom tax has been introduced as a “temporary” fee, valid until July 1st, 2028, after which “normal customs duties will apply, depending on the type of goods,” according to the European Commission's Taxation and Customs Union.
In the US, all packages from Shein, AliExpress, and Temu that are under $800 are subject to import duties since last year, according to the US Customs and Border Protection.
Why is a €3 customs duty for low-value parcels necessary?
For years, low-value parcels were exempt from duties, with the threshold set at €150 since 2008.
However, due to this regulation, the number of parcels entering the EU has risen from 1.4 billion in 2022 to 5.8 billion in 2025, according to Reuters.
Considering these numbers, the European Commission noted that “the current customs duty exemption gives non-EU sellers an unfair advantage over businesses that manufacture or sell products in the EU.”
At the same time, the millions of parcels entering the EU often contain products that don’t necessarily meet EU safety standards or are undervalued to avoid paying customs.
The newly introduced tax shouldn’t come as a surprise, as this change was discussed last year and many EU member countries agreed to the measure.
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People’s thoughts on the €3 customs tax
The new rule sparked an online discussion, with Redditors debating whether it will actually make a difference.
“Well, that's still gonna be cheaper than buying locally in most cases,” wrote one Redditor, adding, “unless the base price of things and the often ridiculously high shipping costs change for the better, people will eat the customs charge, if the end price is low enough, which it will be a lot of the times.”
“Buying locally is most of the time the same cheap Chinese stuff just with huge markups,” noted another netizen, hinting that sometimes items we see in stores are actually coming from shops like Temu and AliExpress.
Some users shared why they purchase from overseas.
“The problem I have is the stuff I order from abroad is not available locally at all,” wrote one Reddit user.
EU introduces €3 customs charge on small parcels to curb cheap Chinese imports
by u/Horror-1-Effective in news
“Surely that's just going to make people buy the cheap Chinese imports in bulk so they can avoid the charge?” shared another user.
“And that's exactly the point, reducing the stupidly giant number of small packages,” added a Redditor.
FAQ about the €3 customs tax
What is the EU customs tariff 2026?
From July 1st, 2026, the EU introduced a fixed customs duty of €3 for certain low-value imported goods entering the EU. This applies to small consignments valued at up to €150.
How is the €3 customs tax applied to the EU?
The €3 charge is applied as a fixed duty per item, not per parcel, for imported goods covered by the new rule and valued at €150 or less.
Who pays the €3 customs tax applied to the EU?
The consumer ultimately pays the €3 customs duty for low-value packages imported into the EU. However, how you pay for it depends on the online store. Stores like AliExpress, Temu, and Shein will add the fee during checkout.
FAQ by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
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