Typos

"Bomb" from Brussels for Small Parcels from China

Published February 12, 2026, 09:29
"Bomb" from Brussels for Small Parcels from China

The Council of the European Union has formally approved the imposition of new customs duties on goods entering the EU in small parcels, mainly from e-commerce. The measure aims to address unfair competition to sellers within the Union and provides for a fee of at least €3 per parcel, regardless of its value. The decision abolishes the exemption from duties for parcels worth less than €150. It will be initially implemented with a fixed duty of €3 per parcel from 2026 to 2028, and then replaced by normal customs duties once the new pan-European online customs clearance platform comes into operation. The €3 duty will be charged per product category contained in each parcel. Therefore, if a parcel contains products from different categories, the duty will be calculated for each of them. The measure is expected to have a positive impact on the EU budget and national public finances, but may increase costs for consumers.