Online shopping: Customs duties now apply to cheap orders

Consumers ordering inexpensive goods from outside the European Union will now face additional costs as a long-standing customs exemption has been abolished. Previously, shipments valued under 150 euros were exempt from customs duties. This rule has now ended, meaning all imports from non-EU countries are subject to charges.

A flat fee of 3 euros will be applied per product group within a shipment. For instance, three T-shirts valued at 30 euros would incur a 3 euro customs charge. If a cheap children's toy is included in the same package, an additional 3 euros will be added, bringing the total customs fee to 6 euros. While sellers or importers are responsible for declaring and paying the duty, they are permitted to pass this cost onto the consumer.

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Sellers can pass the flat customs fee on to the consumer.

Experts warn that this could significantly impact the price of very cheap products. The European Consumer Centre Germany has cautioned that prices on online platforms are already rising as sellers anticipate these new charges. In the past year, the EU recorded 5.9 billion shipments valued under 150 euros, averaging 16 million packages daily, none of which were subject to customs duties. Over 90 percent of these shipments originated from China.

This flat-rate customs fee is expected to remain in place for approximately two years, serving as a transitional measure until a new digital platform for customs processing and control is launched. Following this implementation, the standard customs rates, which vary based on the value, origin, and classification of goods, will be reinstated.

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For very inexpensive products, this can be significant.