Small Chinese parcels entering the EU will be taxed 3 euros from July 2026
Brussels – All small parcels imported into the European Union will be subject to a tax of 3 euros from July 1, 2026, according to a decision made Friday by the Economy ministers.
Some 4.6 billion shipments worth less than 150 euros entered the European market in 2024, that is more than 145 every second. Of this total, 91% came from China.
A month ago, the European Finance ministers had approved the removal, starting next year, of the customs duty exemption enjoyed by these “small parcels”.
This measure will apply to parcels coming from all countries outside the EU but is mainly intended to combat the flood of low-priced Chinese products, which often do not comply with European standards, purchased on Asian platforms such as Shein, Temu or AliExpress.
“ The introduction of a flat-rate amount on small parcels is a major victory for the European Union ,” welcomed the French Economy minister Roland Lescure, who led this fight in Brussels. (December 12, 2025)
