For years, small parcels from China have been flooding European letterboxes. Clothes, accessories, gadgets and everyday items ordered on Shein, Temu or AliExpress were arriving directly at consumers’ homes, often for just a few euros. A system, an invasion for some, that the European Union is now starting to seriously rein in.
Since 1 July, parcels worth less than or equal to 150 euros have been subject to a flat customs duty of 3 euros per product category. Until now, these small consignments were exempt from customs duties.
And the impact has been swift. According to French customs figures cited on Thursday by the Ministry of the Economy, the number of small parcels imported into the European Union has fallen by 30 to 40% since the measure was introduced.
The French government sees this as proof that tighter regulation can change the behaviour of major Chinese platforms.
Between June and July, sales volumes slumped on Temu (-50%) and AliExpress (-37%). Shein has held up better (-15%), buoyed by the planned opening of a new warehouse in Poland at the end of 2025, which will help to ease the tax burden.
Why has Europe decided to act?
In 2025, 5.9 billion low-value items entered the Union, the equivalent of more than 16 million parcels a day. For Brussels (source in French), this system gave large foreign platforms an advantage over European retailers, who have to comply with the same rules and pay duties when they import their goods.
The European Commission has also highlighted safety concerns. According to a survey carried out in 2025 in the EU, more than 60% of low-value products inspected did not comply with European requirements or safety standards. The new rules therefore also allow customs authorities to better identify products that pose a risk.
Although effective, the measure is not permanent. It is intended to accompany a broader reform of the European customs system in 2028. Another step could come from November, when additional fees to fund parcel handling may also be added.