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| The three-euro tariff on small packages from non-EU countries has reduced imports by 30%. |
| EU, 29.08.2026 |
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| The introduction of a new tax within the European Union (EU) on small packages, especially those originating from China, from July 1, 2026 has led to a 30 percent to 40 percent drop in imports into the Union. This was announced by French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure at the summit of the French Business Association (MEDEF) on Thursday (August 27). The AFP news agency specified that the minister referred to data provided by the French customs administration, reports TASR.
In the European Union, new rules for shipments imported from countries outside the EU have been in effect since July 1, 2026, when shipments with a value of goods up to 150 euros must pay a flat-rate duty of three euros per item.
"As far as China is concerned, it is a clear thing," Lescure explained at an event in Paris. At the annual meeting of the largest employers' association in France, he also welcomed the effects of the measure, which targets major Asian online sales platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.
France decided to be one step ahead of the EU by introducing a two-euro tax on items purchased on e-commerce platforms from outside the EU from March 1 this year, in order to limit the influx of small packages worth under 150 euros, mainly originating from China.
This measure was supplemented by an EU-wide three-euro duty at the beginning of July.
However, in mid-May, the director general of the French customs administration, Florian Colas, estimated the revenue collected from this two-euro tax at 2.3 million euros per month, which was significantly less in one month to meet the expected target of 400 million euros for the national budget for 2026.
In fact, online sales platforms from third countries were sending their packages to countries neighboring France and then transporting them by regular transport to France in order to circumvent the French tax. In this regard, France changed its strategy in the summer and suspended the national two-euro tax in the name of harmonizing European rules. In France, as in all other eurozone countries, imported packages with a value of less than 150 euros, which were previously exempt from customs duties, will be subject to customs duties of three euros per product from July 1.
The aim of this measure is to limit the influx of products, which are mainly Chinese and do not always meet EU standards for safety, consumer protection and the environment, into the single European market.
AFP noted that in 2025, almost 5.9 billion small packages entered the European market, which is more than 180 packages every second. This is four times more than in 2022. Of this number, 93% came from China.odkaz na stránku |
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