End duty-free packages and unfair competition in e-commerce. As of July 1, 2026, a temporary customs fee of 3 euros will be applied to any small package purchased on platforms such as Temu, Shein or AliExpress, which must be paid by those who made the purchase. In this way, the European Union agrees to eliminate the tax exemption that currently existed for shipments of less than 150 euros and will force these platforms to act legally as “importers for distance sales.”
With this measure, the EU seeks to stop unfair competition and thus ensure that it is the platform itself that collects this money along with VAT, thus preventing consumers from encountering surprise charges when they receive their orders at their homes.
The end of surprise charges and more responsibility for platforms
The regulations are part of a historic reform of the Customs Union to confront an unsustainable reality, where in 2025 alone, some 5.9 billion items of low value entered the EU in small packages sent directly to buyers, of which more than 90% came from China.
Until now, these packages dodged tariffs, creating a significant disadvantage for traditional retail. Under the new agreement, this fixed charge of 3 euros will be applied as a temporary solution to level the playing field, until the future EU Customs Data Center is fully operational in 2028 and normal tariffs begin to apply to these shipments.
For buyers, this change means, above all, greater transparency, since by forcing online platforms and sellers from third countries to assume the role of importers, these companies will be financially and legally responsible for guaranteeing that products comply with community regulations.
Likewise, European consumers will no longer be considered the importers of the products they purchase and will no longer have to deal with last-minute customs procedures or hidden costs when receiving their packages. Furthermore, if e-commerce companies fail to comply with these rules, they will face harsh sanctions, as Europe can impose fines of between 1% and 6% of the total value of goods they have imported into the EU in the last 12 months, and even suspend their operator status and block their operations.
As a complement to the 3 euro tariff, the reform also contemplates that, no later than November 1, 2026, a new “handling fee” will be introduced for small shipments. This additional fee, the exact amount of which will be determined by the European Commission, will serve to compensate customs authorities for the increasing IT and supervisory costs involved in reviewing this immense quantity of goods.