European levy on non-EU parcels kicks in on Sunday in bid to curb China influx

The EU’s new handling fee is a €2 charge on packages sent directly to consumers from outside the 27-nation bloc. It applies regardless of a parcel’s value. The measure is designed to help customs authorities manage the flood of small imports, especially from China, and compensate their work.

The charge applies to each type of item in a package. A parcel containing only T-shirts would incur one €2 handling fee. A parcel containing T-shirts and hats would incur two fees, or €4. This charge is separate from the EU’s €3 duty on small parcels worth less than €150.

The levy begins just before the Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas shopping rushes. The EU says consumers are not expected to pay it directly, but sellers may add the charge before checkout. The fee is permanent, and its amount must be reviewed every two years for proportionality.

The EU calculates the handling fee by the types of items inside a package, not simply by the parcel itself or its total number of products. Each distinct item type attracts a €2 charge. This makes the system different from a single flat fee for every incoming package.

The article gives a clear example. A package containing 10 T-shirts has one item type, so the handling fee is €2. If the same package contains two hats as well as 10 T-shirts, it contains two item types, so the fee becomes €4. The quantity within each type does not add another fee.

This mechanism can make mixed-product orders more expensive for sellers to process. Retailers may include the cost in their prices or show a two-euro charge before a sale. The European Consumer Organisation warned that platforms must show the full price upfront, rather than add costs at the final payment stage.

The flow of small parcels into the EU has reached an enormous scale. Nearly six billion small packages entered the bloc last year. The volume has multiplied rapidly enough to become a major issue for customs authorities and policymakers.

China dominates this stream. Official data cited in the article shows that 93 per cent of the cheap packages arriving in Europe came from China. Many traveled through popular Asian shopping platforms such as AliExpress and Temu. The figure covers cheap packages entering Europe, rather than every type of imported shipment.

This scale helps explain why the EU introduced a handling fee and previously imposed a duty on low-value parcels. Officials say customs costs and pressure have risen as small packages multiplied. Imports fell by around 64 per cent after the €3 duty began in July, but officials caution that it is still too early to draw firm conclusions about the long-term effect.

The EU says small parcels are straining customs because their numbers have grown dramatically. Nearly six billion entered the bloc last year, creating a large administrative workload. Brussels says customs authorities must process these shipments while also checking whether goods comply with EU rules.

The pressure is not only about volume. The article says customs have limited resources and face products described as unsafe, including toys that violate EU rules. Packages often arrive through Chinese e-commerce platforms, adding to the challenge of monitoring many low-value shipments. The new €2 fee is intended to compensate customs for this work.

The policy also reflects concern about rising public costs. Since the €3 duty on small parcels began in July, imports have fallen by around 64 per cent, although officials say it is too early to know whether that change will last. The EU will review the handling fee every two years to keep it proportional to customs operations.

The fee could change how online retailers and sellers price goods shipped into the EU. Although the EU says European consumers are not expected to pay the handling fee directly, platforms and sellers can add a two-euro charge before a sale. That may affect listed prices, shipping charges or a seller’s margins.

The cost depends on the package’s item types. One type costs €2, while two types cost €4. The European Consumer Organisation warned that some platforms might try to pass these costs to consumers at the final stage of checkout. Under EU law, the full price must be shown upfront, so a surprise late charge would be illegal.

The practical effect will depend on how retailers respond. They may absorb the fee, include it in prices or display it earlier in the transaction. The change arrives before Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas shopping, when cross-border online purchases typically receive extra attention.

The two charges have different purposes and time limits. The €2 handling fee is a permanent levy for the work customs authorities perform on incoming parcels. The EU must assess its amount every two years to ensure it remains proportional to the cost of customs operations.

The €3 duty is different. It applies to small packages worth less than €150, but it is explicitly temporary and remains in place until July 1, 2028. The handling fee is based on the types of items in a package, while the article describes the €3 measure as a duty on low-value parcels.

From July 1, 2028, standard product-specific customs tariffs will apply instead of the temporary €3 duty. The distinction matters for sellers planning prices and for policymakers judging whether the measures reduce parcel volumes. Imports have already fallen around 64 per cent since the €3 duty began, though officials say it is too early for firm conclusions.

Customs duties and tariffs are charges imposed when goods cross a national or regional border. In everyday use, the terms often overlap. Governments use them to collect revenue, enforce trade rules or influence imports. The charge may be based on a product’s value, type, quantity or a combination of these factors.

For example, a tariff on imported shoes can raise the cost for the importer. That importer may absorb the charge, pass it to a retailer or include it in the consumer’s price. Customs authorities also use declarations and product classifications to determine which rate applies. A handling fee is different: it generally pays for processing or administration rather than taxing the goods themselves.

In this article, the EU’s €3 duty targets small parcels worth less than €150, while the €2 handling fee supports customs operations and counts item types. After July 1, 2028, standard product-specific tariffs will replace the temporary duty, affecting future import costs and trade flows.