European Union (EU) finance ministers have agreed to introduce a €3 ($3.52) customs duty on low-value parcels entering the bloc, as reported by Reuters. 

From 1 July 2026, a per-item charge will be introduced to curb rising low-cost Chinese e-commerce imports from platforms such as Shein and Temu. 

According to the EU's council of 27 governments, the customs duty will remain in force until a permanent framework is introduced to abolish the existing de minimis exemption for online purchases valued below €150. 

The exemption was due to be removed in 2028 as part of a wider reform of the EU’s customs system.  

However, calls to act sooner have intensified amid concerns that Chinese goods are being dumped on the European market. 

A council source said the duty would be calculated per product category, using six-digit tariff codes.  

For example, ten pairs of socks of the same type would attract a single €3 charge, while five pairs made of wool and five of cotton would be treated as two separate item types, resulting in a total charge of €6. 

Irish EU lawmaker Barry Andrews, who had previously proposed a €5 levy per package, said he supported the agreed €3 duty per item and added that member states should raise it if it failed to reduce the volume of low-cost deliveries. 

Online marketplaces Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Amazon Haul ship clothing, accessories and electronic goods directly from Chinese factories to European consumers at very low prices.  

The existing customs waiver has contributed to a sharp rise in such imports, with the number of low-value e-commerce parcels entering the EU doubling in 2024 to 4.6 billion.  

More than 90% originated from China, and volumes are expected to be higher in 2025. 

The EU is also examining the introduction of a handling fee.  

The European Commission has proposed a charge of €2 per parcel, though no timeline has yet been set for its implementation.