EU’s Small-Package Tariff Quickly Changes Online Shopping Habits

The European Union’s new charge on small parcels is already changing how shoppers buy from major Chinese online platforms. Two months after the measure began, French customs data showed that the number of low-value parcels entering the bloc had fallen by 30% to 40%.

Since July 1, parcels worth no more than €150 have faced a €3 customs duty for each product category. Before the change, such packages were exempt from customs duties. The charge applies to goods ordered through platforms such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress, whose low-cost products have reached European consumers directly at home.

French Economy Ministry figures showed Temu sales fell by as much as 50% between June and July. AliExpress recorded a 37% decline, while Shein saw a smaller 15% drop. French authorities view the figures as evidence that stricter rules can affect consumer behavior and reduce the advantage that large Chinese platforms have held in the European market.

The scale of the trade had become especially visible in 2025, when about 5.9 billion low-value products entered the EU, equivalent to more than 16 million parcels a day. Brussels argues that the previous system gave non-EU platforms an advantage over European retailers, which must comply with European rules and pay import obligations.

The new policy also targets product safety. An EU study in 2025 found that more than 60% of the low-value products examined failed to meet European requirements or safety standards. The measure is transitional rather than permanent, and forms part of a broader customs reform planned for 2028. Further fees linked to parcel processing could be introduced as early as November, while retailers continue adapting to the new rules.