The European Union will apply, starting this Wednesday, July 1st, an additional tax of three euros to orders with an amount less than 150 euros. This measure will affect all online purchases made from countries outside the EU, although Chinese platforms like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress will be the most impacted due to their business volume and low prices.
The regulation aims to tackle the avalanche of packages entering the European market, which have quadrupled since 2022, reaching 5.9 billion packages in 2025. According to European Commission data, packages from these Chinese platforms represent 98% of e-commerce imports into the EU but only 2% of their total value, averaging less than nine euros per package.
The three-euro tax will be applied per product category, not per individual package. For example, if three t-shirts are purchased, a three-euro tax will be paid. If two bags are added, the surcharge will rise to six euros, and if a watch is also included, the tax will be nine euros. However, the sellers or importers will be responsible for paying this tax, except in exceptional cases where the customer might have to pay it. Platforms must always inform the consumer of the final price without surprise charges.
This tax will be temporary and will be in effect until July 1st, 2028, the date when the tax exemption for imports under 150 euros, established in the 1980s, ends. After that, a broader reform of EU customs will be implemented with a new management fee for all orders from outside the EU delivered directly to the consumer. The European Commission has suggested this future tax could be two euros.
The EU has decided to advance the implementation of this tax to address a problem considered urgent, which increases the risk of counterfeit or low-quality products entering, distorts competition with European manufacturers, and hinders compliance with community rules.
