According to German weekly DIE ZEIT, the European Union has agreed to introduce a €2 flat processing fee per small parcel imported into the EU from third countries — effective 1 November 2026. The measure targets the surge in low-value cross-border e-commerce shipments, especially those originating from China via platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. This marks a significant shift in EU regulatory approach towards cross-border e-commerce logistics.
New Fee Structure and Implementation Timeline
The €2 charge will apply to every internet-ordered item entering the EU, regardless of value, and will be collected by national customs authorities. This new levy is separate from another set of duties scheduled to take effect earlier: starting July 2026, a €3 fee per article type will apply to all parcels with a declared value up to €150. That interim measure remains in place until a new digital customs platform is operational — currently planned for 2028, at which point the EU’s de minimis threshold (currently €150) will be abolished entirely, making all imports subject to duties from the first euro. This phased approach represents a comprehensive policy framework addressing both immediate revenue needs and long-term systemic reform.
Scale and Origin of Cross-Border Parcels
In 2025, an estimated 5.9 billion parcels entered the EU from non-EU countries. Of these, more than 90% originated in China. Until now, such low-value shipments have entered duty-free — a regulatory gap that enabled rapid growth but undermined customs oversight and fair competition. Data from Germany’s retail association (HDE) illustrates the scale at national level: Shein and Temu collectively ship approximately 400,000 parcels daily to German consumers. Their combined 2024 revenue in Germany ranged between €2.7 billion and €3.3 billion, with over 14 million German consumers purchasing from them that year.
Enforcement Mechanisms and Penalties
To strengthen accountability, the EU also agreed to penalize online marketplaces that repeatedly import unsafe goods. Platforms found guilty of repeated violations face fines of up to 6% of the total value of all goods they imported into the EU over the preceding 12 months. As a last resort, persistent offenders may be banned from operating in the EU market, effective from 2028. The EU cites widespread non-compliance with safety standards as justification. Consumer testing revealed that over 90% of products from Shein and Temu failed to meet EU regulatory requirements, including items containing toxic chemicals or posing physical hazards — such as toys capable of causing fatal injury to children.
Industry Response and Consumer Protection Perspective
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) welcomed the decisions. BEUC General Director Agustin Reyna stated:
“The EU was recently flooded by a ‘parcel tsunami from China’ — one that customs authorities were simply unable to handle.” — Agustin Reyna, General Director, BEUC
He cited examples where consumer organizations discovered toys that could have killed children and textiles soaked with prohibited chemicals. With current inspection capacity overwhelmed by volume, the new fees are intended to fund expanded customs staffing and infrastructure.
Implications for Supply Chain Professionals
For supply chain managers overseeing cross-border e-commerce operations into the EU, these changes necessitate immediate reassessment of landed cost models, compliance workflows, and carrier partnerships. The €2 per-parcel fee creates a fixed cost component that disproportionately affects high-SKU, low-unit-value business models typical of fast fashion and small electronics. Customs declarations must now be generated for every individual item, increasing data accuracy requirements and integration needs with ERP and TMS systems. Moreover, the 2028 elimination of the €150 de minimis threshold means even micro-fulfillment hubs and drop-shipping operations will require full customs representation and VAT registration across member states — significantly escalating administrative overhead.
Global Regulatory Trends and Strategic Considerations
The EU’s move reflects a broader global trend of major consumer markets reassessing regulatory approaches to cross-border e-commerce. Similar measures are under consideration in the United States, Australia, and other jurisdictions facing comparable challenges from direct-to-consumer imports. This regulatory shift points toward several key directions: transitioning focus from bulk trade to fragmented retail imports; moving from post-entry sampling to full digital traceability throughout the supply chain; and expanding from mere tariff collection to comprehensive safety and compliance management. For Chinese exporters and global e-commerce platforms, this signals the need to move beyond price-based competition toward quality assurance, compliance systems, and localized operations.
Impact on Chinese Supply Chains and Future Opportunities
While the new fees will initially increase costs for Chinese goods entering the EU market, particularly for price-sensitive sellers, they may ultimately drive positive transformation within Chinese supply chains. The regulations create incentives for manufacturers to improve product quality and safety standards, encourage logistics providers to develop more efficient compliance solutions, and push e-commerce platforms from price competition toward value-based differentiation. For Chinese companies with established compliance capabilities and brand strength, this regulatory environment presents an opportunity to consolidate market position. Additionally, the changes may stimulate greater China-EU logistics collaboration, encouraging more Chinese businesses to establish local warehousing in Europe — shifting from “Made in China, shipped globally” to “Chinese brands, locally served.”
Source: www.zeit.de
This article was AI-assisted and reviewed by our editorial team.
