Purchases on Temu, Shein, AliExpress and other Chinese marketplaces may become more expensive for residents of the European Union. Starting in July, the EU will introduce new fees for import parcels, and in the fall, an additional payment will come into effect. This is reported by InPoland.
Parcels from China to the EU will be subject to a new customs fee
The first stage of changes will start on July 1, 2026. Shipments from countries outside the EU valued at up to 150 euros will no longer benefit from the actual exemptions that were previously in place.
For such goods, a fixed fee of 3 euros will be introduced for each category of goods in the parcel. The new payment will apply to products coming to the EU from third countries, primarily from China.
In Brussels, the new measures are explained by a sharp increase in the number of small shipments through international online platforms and the need to strengthen control over the quality of goods.
New tariffs in the EU will be introduced in two stages
The second stage of the reform will take effect at the beginning of November 2026. At that time, a processing fee will be added to the already existing charge.
Its amount will range from 2 to 4 euros. The funds are intended to cover the costs of customs clearance, additional checks, and the environmental impact of large-scale imports of goods from China.
According to Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domański, approximately 28.5 million Chinese parcels arrive in the country each year. Additionally, about one million such shipments are delivered daily to Spain.
What the new rules mean for consumers
Formally, the new fees will be paid by companies or operators declaring goods for importation into the EU. However, experts do not rule out that part of the additional costs may be passed on to end consumers through price increases.
The temporary system of fixed fees will remain in effect for two years — until July 1, 2028. After that, the EU plans to switch to a standard customs taxation model, where the amount of the payment will be determined as a percentage of the value of the goods.
The new rules aim to strengthen control over imports, protect the European market from unfair competition, and ensure that goods meet EU requirements and standards.
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