The European Union is set to introduce a flat import rate on billions of small parcels imported into the common market bloc each year, most of which originate from China.
The move is expected to have negative repercussions against Chinese-owned online retailers like Temu and Shein. The European Commission has drafted a proposal for a handling fee, responding to growing pressure from member states whose customs services are overwhelmed by the 4.6 billion items shipped annually directly to European households.
While the exact amount of the flat import rate has not been divulged, as the Financial Times, which claims to have seen it, suggests, sources familiar with the EC deliberations on the matter indicated that it is likely to be set at around €2 per parcel.
EC Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic has pledged to address the soaring influx of parcels, arguing it has resulted in a rise in unsafe and non-compliant goods reaching EU consumers.
This European effort echoes recent measures taken in the United States. On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order officially eliminating the duty exemption for low-value imports from China. Effective May 2, 2025, goods shipped from China and Hong Kong no longer qualify for de minimis exemptions and must be imported under standard customs procedures.
Following the end of the de minimis provision, low-value Chinese parcels entering the U.S. were hit with steep duties—either a 120% tariff or a flat fee of $100 per package. For example, a $10 T-shirt could end up costing $22 after duties, while a $200 luggage set could see its price jump to $300.
