Two euros, EU vs China… What we know about the new fees on parcels

This is a new measure from Brussels to try to reduce the surge of Chinese products purchased on the Internet. From November 1, new fees will come into force on packages imported into the European Union. Controls will also be strengthened.

This is not a first for European consumers. This amount will in fact be added to the European tax of 3 euros on “small parcels”. So, as “Black Friday” and Christmas approach – two generally good periods for e-commerce – 20 Minutes takes stock of this new measure.

How will these fees work? These “Union processing fees” will apply from November 1 to all shipments arriving in the EU from a third country, made as part of “distance sales”, regardless of the value of the items ordered. Amounting two euros, they will be added to the tax of 3 euros, imposed since July on imported packages with a value of less than 150 euros.

Processing fees will be payable for each category of items contained in the same package. So, if a shipment contains twenty caps – whatever the brand or model – they will amount to 2 euros. But if a package contains three caps, four t-shirts and two belts, they will reach a total of 6 euros.

Who will pay? Fees should not be charged to consumers. It is up to the platforms, sellers or their intermediaries to settle them.

On the other hand, merchants are free to increase their prices to pass on this new charge to their customers, as certain sites have done to compensate for the tax on “small parcels”. What is the objective of this measure? It aims to finance a strengthening of customs controls, in the face of the avalanche of Chinese products on European territory.

Nearly 5.9 billion small parcels entered the EU 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... European manufacturers and traders have long denounced unfair competition and several countries, led by France, have pushed the EU to act to stem the phenomenon.

The goal for Brussels is also to reduce the European trade deficit. What will be the next steps? The processing fees, decided as part of an in-depth reform of the customs system of the Twenty-Seven, are a permanent measure.

But their amount will be reviewed every two years to follow the evolution of the cost of customs checks. Specific fees, at a reduced amount, will also be applicable from July 1, 2028 to packages transiting through specialized warehouses. During this same period, the 3 euro tax will disappear.

Small parcels will then be subject to European customs duties.

Machine-translated from French