EU eliminates tax exemption for low-value parcels, raising costs for SHEIN and Temu shoppers

Previously, e-commerce giants were able to ship millions of ultra-cheap, tax-free individual packages directly from Chinese factories to European consumers, avoiding customs duties entirely.

To end this structural advantage and protect local European retailers, the EU has eliminated this exemption, introducing a flat-rate customs duty of €3 that applies to each product category within a parcel rather than once per parcel.

If a shopper buys a shirt, a pair of sunglasses and a bag in a single order, they will now face a €9 customs charge on a low-cost bundle that previously entered the cont