Low-cost online shopping on international platforms like Shein, Temu, or AliExpress faces significant changes. The European Union will implement, starting July 1, 2026, a fixed tariff of 3 euros for packages valued under 150 euros originating from outside the EU. This measure is compounded by a debate in Canarias regarding the potential removal of the IGIC (Canarian General Indirect Tax) exemption for these same orders.
This situation presents two opposing viewpoints. On one hand, Mónica Bethencourt, president of the Consumers Association of Canarias (CONCA), describes the measure as bad news for Canarian consumers. She argues that island residents often turn to these platforms due to a lack of local physical stock, not just price. She points out a comparative disadvantage, as the tariff will apply equally to a peninsular consumer with 21% VAT and a Canarian consumer with 7% IGIC. Bethencourt emphasizes that, with lower salaries, local consumption has become a luxury for many Canarian families, pushing them towards platforms with ultra-competitive prices.
“"Any charge that may affect consumers' pockets is never good news, obviously."
From a business perspective, the measure is seen as a necessary step. Victoria González, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, believes Europe's decision aims to protect local commerce from unfair competition. She notes that since 2020, 7,882 Canarian businesses have been lost, a sector that employs 156,000 families in the archipelago. González also highlights risks to safety and health, as packages without customs control may contain toxic products or dangerous electronics, in addition to the carbon footprint of transporting millions of individual packages.
The impact on buyers could be considerable. If the Government of Canarias eliminates the tax exemption, the product price will be increased by the 3-euro tariff, customs management costs, and the 7% IGIC. This could make low-value purchases unprofitable. However, this measure would mean that IGIC revenue would remain within Canarian coffers, benefiting public services. Victoria González questions the current model of "giving away our taxes to Asian platforms," while Mónica Bethencourt, although agreeing on regulating e-commerce, criticizes the Canarian administration's lack of sensitivity towards consumers.
The new European regulation, transitional until 2028, aims to rebalance competition. The debate underscores the difficulty of reconciling the protection of local commerce with the defense of consumer purchasing power in a context of low wages and high inflation. Canarias' final decision on the IGIC will be key to defining the future of consumption in the islands.
