This Sunday (November 1st, local time), the EU will charge a fee of 2 euros (approximately 15 RMB) for small parcels valued below 150 euros that come from outside the EU. AFP reports that this measure is clearly aimed at China.
This new charge—implemented several weeks ago during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Christmas shopping season—will be added to the 3 euros in tariffs imposed by the EU on small packages in July.
According to the introduction, this handling fee is applied based on the goods category. That is, regardless of the value of the package, this fee applies to every item in the package that is directly sent to EU consumers.
For example, if there are 10 T-shirts in the package, the fee is 2 euros; if there are 2 hats and 10 T-shirts in the package, the fee is 4 euros.
The European Union claims that European consumers do not need to pay any fees, but online retailers and sellers may charge an additional €2 before selling.
Regarding this, the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) expressed their concern that “some platforms might attempt to transfer these new fees to consumers at the final stage of purchase.”
According to official EU data, nearly 6 billion small packages entered the EU last year, with about 93% of them coming from China, typically through platforms like AliExpress and Temu. Since the EU imposed a 3-euro tariff on small packages in July this year, imports have decreased by approximately 64%.
A fee of 2 euros is a permanent charge, but the 3-euro customs duty for small packages is a temporary measure, with a duration until July 1, 2028.
In recent years, Chinese e-commerce apps such as Temu and Shein have developed rapidly globally. Previously, some foreign media argued that the business models of Chinese e-commerce companies benefited from a “minimum exemption” policy, which exempts packages below certain quantities or values from tariffs in the destination countries. However, in addition to Chinese e-commerce companies, retailers such as Amazon and Walmart in the United States are also using this mechanism to import goods.
As Temu and Shein have grown rapidly, these two e-commerce platforms have become a concern for the American and Western governments.
The U.S. government was the first to implement a duty-free policy for small packages, which ended in August last year. Subsequently, the European Union began following suit with the United States. Initially, it was planned to impose fees on small packages starting in 2028. However, under the urging of countries like France and Germany, this date was moved forward to 2026.
Regarding the EU's frequent plans to target small packages from China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning previously stated: "What I can tell you is that China always believes that creating an open and inclusive international trade environment is in the common interest of all parties. We hope that the EU will stick to its commitments to openness, provide a fair, transparent, non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises, and create favorable conditions for Sino-EU economic and trade cooperation."
