Brussels – Cheap shopping from China will soon become much more expensive. Reason: The EU removed the previous exclusion limit of 150 euros for imports from non-EU countries. In the future, duties will be imposed on each product starting from the first euro.
The EU is pulling its strings
Packages from low cost shippers like MeetShein and AliExpress are flooding Europe’s parcel centers – and disrupting competition. EU countries want to stop this now. Their plan: Customs duties on all packages from non-EU countries, no matter how cheap the contents. This is intended to end tax fraud and distortion of competition. Background: Many Cheap product so far it has been declared with the wrong or low value goods and passed duty free.
Goal: justice, not cheapness
According to the EU Commission, around 65 percent of deliveries involve fraud. With the new regulations, the same provisions should apply to all dealers – whether in Europe or the Far East.
These reforms will take effect from 2028, with a transition solution as early as 2026. A flat rate of up to two euros per package is also being considered.
Do I have to go to customs now?
Many consumers ask themselves: Does this mean I will have to collect every Chinese package from customs in the future? The answer: usually not. Typically, parcel services such as DHL or Hermes handle customs clearance and collect fees directly upon delivery. Only in the absence of automatic clearance will you receive a notification from the customs office – then you will have to collect the goods there yourself and pay any customs fees due.
