EU Urged to Charge €10 on Shein and Temu Parcels

The Euratex Confederation has asked the European Union to impose a €10 ($12) handling fee on low-value shipments from outside the bloc, many of which come from China. The proposal is aimed particularly at the rapid growth of ultra-fast-fashion and e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.

Since 1 July, goods in packages valued at less than €150 ($174), which were previously exempt from customs duties, have been subject to a temporary €3 ($3.50) customs duty. The duty is generally levied on each category of goods contained in a parcel rather than once per package.

The measure is separate from a new EU handling fee for small e-commerce consignments, which is expected to apply from November 2026 at the earliest. The precise amount has not yet been determined, although fees of between €2 ($2.30) and €4 ($4.60) per parcel are being discussed.

Euratex argues that these amounts are insufficient. According to the confederation, a fee of around €10 ($12) per parcel would more accurately reflect the costs generated by customs declarations, risk assessments, product safety checks and enforcement. It argues that the revenue should be used to strengthen customs controls, market surveillance and product safety enforcement rather than simply contribute to the EU budget.

The proposal comes amid a surge in low-value e-commerce imports. An estimated 5.9 billion low-value items entered the EU in 2025, up 26% from 4.6 billion in 2024. More than 90% originated in China.

Euratex says Europe’s textile and apparel industry supports around 1.3 million jobs and 200,000 companies, most of them small and medium-sized enterprises. The confederation argues that European manufacturers face increasingly intense competition from overseas sellers that do not necessarily face the same regulatory, environmental and product safety requirements.

(Euratex, bak)