Package surge from China: Commission pro • Table.Briefings

FOTOMONTAGE, gestapelte Pakete von Temu symbolisieren den rasanten Aufstieg des Online-Handels aus China. — Chinese platforms like Temu ship low-value packages (under EUR 150) directly to EU consumers – making them customs-exempt. To cover the rising costs of this practice, the European Commission now wants to impose a customs processing fee.

The European Commission plans to propose new revenue streams and a budget overhaul in June. Among the measures is a handling fee of EUR 2 per package imported into the EU via e-commerce from third countries. The revenue would go toward the EU’s own resources. Meanwhile, the EU’s next research framework program, FP10, is expected to retain its independence.

The Commission’s non-paper outlines a flat-rate fee – €2 per shipment – regardless of the item’s value. The aim is to offset growing costs related to data verification, physical inspections and the collection of duties and taxes. The fee would be categorized as „other revenue“ and flow directly into the EU budget. Critics have described it as a de facto new EU tax.

Package surge from China: Commission proposes EUR 2 fee per shipment

Sign up now and continue reading immediately