Small parcel shipments sharply falling in France, tax takes effect

Since July 1, the European Union has imposed a tax of 3 euros on each category of products contained in imported packages with a value of less than 150 euros, commonly called “small packages”, often coming from China. In addition, a “processing fee” of 2 euros will be added from November 1, with the same conditions, with the aim of financing the strengthening of customs controls. This is a new measure from Brussels to try to reduce the surge of Chinese products purchased on the Internet.

And it seems to be working and is producing its first effects. The government in fact indicated this Wednesday that the number of small parcels sent to France had fallen between June and August, according to the VAT amounts declared, seeing this as “tangible results” of the implementation of a European tax in July. Declared VAT amounts plunged by 48% between June and August for small parcels in France, according to Minister of Action and Public Accounts David Amiel.

This drop must be considered both in terms of volumes and value of small parcels to France from sites such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress, his office clarified during a press conference in Bercy. More than 180 small parcels every second in 2025 It must be said that nearly 5.9 billion small parcels entered the European Union in 2025, or more than 180 every second. This is four times more than in 2022.

Of this total, 93% came from China, generally via sites like Shein, Temu, AliExpress. Faced with such an avalanche of goods, which is widening the European trade deficit, it is impossible to systematically control packages. This allows dangerous or counterfeit products to slip through the cracks.

European industrialists and traders have long denounced unfair competition and several countries, led by France, have pushed the European Union to act to stem the phenomenon.

Machine-translated from French