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New tariff affects orders below € 150, increases costs for international platforms, and may influence prices paid by European consumers.
The European Union began applying, on July 1, 2026, a fixed tariff on low-value orders sent by foreign sellers.
Products purchased on platforms like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress now face a charge of € 3 per customs category included in each shipment.
Goods valued at up to € 150 previously entered the bloc without the payment of customs tariffs.
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The Council of the European Union states that the rapid growth of international purchases made the old model inadequate for the current reality of e-commerce.
Charge will depend on products within the package
The new tariff will not be calculated solely by the number of packages received by the consumer.
Each customs classification identified within the same order will be subject to a charge of € 3.
A package containing dresses, toys, and electronics, for example, may accumulate a total tariff of € 9.
Multiple items belonging to the same category, however, will be charged only once.
An order consisting exclusively of dresses may receive only the basic charge of € 3, even when including different pieces.
Europe received 5.8 billion orders in 2025
The number of small packages sent to the European Union has grown significantly in recent years.
Data from the European Commission shows that approximately 1.4 billion low-value orders arrived in the bloc in 2022.
This volume reached 5.8 billion shipments in 2025, increasing pressure on customs inspection and processing systems.
European parliamentarian Dirk Gotink stated that the exemption was created for a commercial reality that no longer exists.
The assessment presented by the legislator indicates that the benefit began to be used on an industrial scale, favoring foreign sellers over European companies.
Retailers report unfair competition
European retail representatives argue that companies based in the bloc must comply with strict safety, labeling, and marketing standards.
According to the sector, some products sent from other countries do not meet the same standards required of local merchants.
Targeted inspections conducted in 2025 found issues in more than 60% of the imported items analyzed.
Prohibited ingredients, lack of labels, and inadequate safety documentation were among the irregularities identified.
The European Commission states that the measure also aims to reduce risks related to the entry of goods with little oversight.
Temporary tariff will remain in effect until 2028
Some European countries had created national charges before the adoption of a joint rule for the entire bloc.
These measures will be replaced by the common tariff established by the European Union.
The fixed charge will remain in effect until July 1, 2028, when the new European customs system is expected to begin operations.
Traditional tariffs will later be calculated according to the specific classification of each commodity.
The provision of reference data for products will also be mandatory from November 1, 2026, enhancing the traceability of imports.
Purchases on Shein, Temu, and AliExpress may become more expensive
The tariff must be officially paid by the seller or importer, with no direct charge to the buyer at the time of package entry.
However, platforms may incorporate the additional costs into the prices presented to consumers.
Another possibility involves pressuring manufacturers and suppliers to absorb part of the new expense.
AliExpress reported that it will start indicating when the advertised price already includes tariffs and value-added tax.
Amazon stated that 97% of its European shipments were fulfilled by warehouses located within the bloc in 2025.
Shein has been expanding its distribution centers in Wroclaw, Poland, to handle large volumes and facilitate delivery across the continent.
European authorities will also need to monitor possible attempts to redirect small packages through countries outside the bloc, such as Switzerland.
Do you believe the new “blouse tax” will protect European commerce or just make international shopping more expensive? Share your opinion!
