EU to impose a €2 fee on small parcels from outside the bloc

If you’ve ever bought a €3 phone case or a €2 pair of socks from a Chinese website and felt like you were winning at life, you should 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 announced plans to introduce a new €2 customs fee on all small parcels coming into the bloc from outside the EU. At the moment all packages with a value under €150 (including any transport, insurance and handling costs) are exempt from customs duty. This is known as the “de minimis” exemption.  

The flat €2 "handling" fee will apply to packages sent directly to consumers. 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 €2 customs fee on all parcels, regardless of value.

In short, that €4 mini desk fan you were eyeing up might now cost €6 by the time it lands on your doorstep.

Why now?

There are a few reasons behind the move:

• Revenue: Billions of parcels at €2 each adds up. The EU hopes to generate some easy money to support customs infrastructure and top up the EU budget.

• Fairness: European retailers argue that sellers from China and elsewhere have an unfair advantage, often avoiding tax in their own countries and under-declaring the value of packages to avoid customs charges.

• 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.

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:

• Expect slightly higher prices: While €2 isn’t huge, it could be a deal-breaker for items that cost less than a cup of coffee.

• 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).

• 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 €2 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...

When will the fee come into effect?

The EU plans to roll out the new customs system in 2028.

This gives consumers, sellers, and customs officers a few years to prepare. And for bargain lovers to enjoy a few more years of €1 wonders.