EU imposes tariff on cheap goods ordered from China from July

From July, the European Union will levy a tariff on all small parcels up to 150 arriving from third countries, particularly China. The new fixed duty is 3 per goods line declared. The change will affect millions of European consumers who order goods from affordable platforms like Temu and Shein.

The European Union has decided to curb the massive influx of cheap small parcels arriving from China and other third countries. From July 2025, all parcels up to 150 ordered directly from outside the EU will be subject to a fixed tariff of 3 per goods line shown in the customs declaration.

Why is this change happening?

Under the rules in force until now, parcels up to 150 could enter the EU duty-free, which Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein exploited actively. Through these platforms, a huge volume of cheap goods has reached the European market, raising concerns among both local retailers and EU producers. The European Commission believes the current system distorts competition and fails to provide adequate consumer protection.

How does the tariff work?

Under the new rules, the tariff is calculated based on the number of goods lines declared—each line incurs a 3 fee. This means parcels containing multiple different items could become significantly more expensive. In addition to the tariff, VAT payment obligations that were introduced in 2021 continue to apply.

Impact on Estonian consumers

The change directly affects Estonian shoppers who have actively used offers from Chinese merchants in recent years. Statistics show that the number of small parcels in Europe has grown explosively—in 2023 alone, over one billion such parcels arrived in the EU. While the 3 additional fee may seem small at first glance, it could affect purchasing behaviour, particularly when buying many low-value items.