Bargain hunting from China is set to get a little pricier for Irish shoppers.
If you’re fond of buying €3 phone cases or €2 pairs of socks from certain Chinese websites, you'll be disappointed to know that your days of ultra-cheap online shopping might be coming to an end — at least in the EU.
That's because the European Commission has agreed on plans to introduce a new €3 fee on all small parcels coming into the bloc from outside the EU.
Until now, all packages with a value under €150 (including any transport, insurance and handling costs) were exempt from customs duty. This was known as the “de minimis” exemption. But this will change from 1 July 2026.
On this date, a new flat €3 "handling" fee will apply to all packages sent directly to consumers from outside the EU. Parcels sent to warehouses would be taxed at a lower rate of 50 cent.
But why the fee? Who will be affected? And should you start panic-buying AliExpress deals before it's too late!?
Here's what you need to know...
What’s changing?
Millions of packages from low-cost sites like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress arrive into Europe every day at present. However, the sheer volume of parcels has started to become a logistical nightmare for customs and postal services across the EU.
Last year, 4.6 billion such parcels, or almost 13 million a day, entered the EU, with more than 90% coming from China.
So, in an effort to simplify customs procedures and make things a bit fairer for EU-based businesses, the EU plans to scrap the current system in favour of a flat €3 customs fee on all parcels, regardless of value.
The change will come info effect from 1st July.
The €3 fee is a temporary measure until 2028 at which stage a wider customs duty system will be implemented. At this stage, every parcel shipped into the EU will be subject to customs duties, VAT and require a customs declaration, regardless of its value.
In short, that €4 mini desk fan you were eyeing up could now cost €7 by the time it lands on your doorstep. And potentially even more in 2028.
Why now?
There are a few reasons behind the move:
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Revenue: Billions of parcels at €3 each adds up. The EU hopes to generate some easy money to support customs infrastructure and top up the EU budget.
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Fairness: European retailers argue that sellers from China and elsewhere have an unfair advantage, often avoiding tax in their own countries, under-declaring the value of packages to avoid customs charges and not abiding by the EU's strict safety rules on products.
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Simplicity: The current exemption for low-value goods means customs officers spend time inspecting and processing tons of tiny parcels, often for negligible tax returns. The flat fee is designed to streamline all that.
- Trump's tariffs: The EU fears a new avalanche of cheap imports could be on the way from China after Trump imposed large tariffs on Chinese imports into the US.
Europe is taking concrete steps to protect its single market, its consumers and its sovereignty.
French Finance Minister, Roland Lescure
What does this mean for consumers?
If you frequently order low-cost items from outside the EU, you’ll want to take note. Here’s what the change means:
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Expect slightly higher prices: While €3 isn’t huge, it could be a deal-breaker for items that cost less than a cup of coffee.
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Less surprise at delivery: Currently, shoppers sometimes get hit with unpredictable VAT and processing charges. A flat fee could make things more transparent (if sellers include it at the checkout).
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Encouragement to shop local: That’s the EU’s hope anyway. It wants to redirect some of that bargain-hunting energy toward homegrown sellers.
And while the new fee is largely aimed at cheap sellers from China, it will apply to all packages coming from outside the EU, including the US and UK of course.
Will this kill off cheap shopping from China?
Probably not.
A €3 fee is unlikely to stop the determined Shein hauler or Temu fan from shopping online. And for mid-priced items, the impact will be minimal. But for really small purchases, it might encourage people to order in bulk or reconsider altogether.
Some sellers might also choose to simply absorb the cost to remain competitive. Indeed EU Trade Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, has said he expects Chinese giants like Temu and Shein to pay the fee themselves. But whether they will remains to be seen...
