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The EU 27 economic system ministers reached an settlement on Thursday to terminate the €150 customs obligation exemption that at present applies to parcels coming from non-EU international locations.
The choice will influence Chinese language e-commerce platforms, corresponding to Shein and Temu, that are flooding the EU market with small parcels. In France, Shein can also be on the centre of a scandal, going through authorized proceedings over the sale of child-like intercourse dolls on its platform.
“This can be a defining second,” European Commissioner for Commerce Maroš Šefčovič stated after the assembly, including that the transfer “sends a powerful sign that Europe is severe about honest competitors and defending the pursuits of its companies.”
A whopping 4.6 billion parcels had been imported within the EU in 2024, EU Economic system Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis recalled on Thursday.
He warned that the development is “dramatically growing,” including that 91% of small parcels come from China.
The choice to take away the exemption on small parcels is a part of a broader overhaul of EU customs guidelines which may take time.
Urgency to behave as Chinese language items flood market
The 27 member states are anticipated to fulfill once more in December to agree on a short lived system that will allow the implementation of the measures.
EU commerce commissioner Šefčovič stated that the EU shall be prepared to maneuver as early as 2026.
“Ending the exemption will shut long-standing loopholes which have been routinely exploited to keep away from customs duties,” a European diplomat stated.
The settlement reached Thursday by EU ministers means customs duties shall be payable from “the primary euro” on all items getting into the EU, like value-added tax, in keeping with the identical official.
The newest strikes sign the tide could also be turning for Chinese language e-commerce platforms which have been transferring aggressively into the European market.
A €2 levy for small packages proposed in July by the European Fee is already being mentioned by the 27 member states.
Particular person member states are additionally introducing nationwide measures. Italy is engaged on a tax to defend its trend trade from a wave of cheaper Chinese language orders which nationwide producers can’t compete with on pricing.
“We’re happy with the measure introducing a tax on small parcels from non-EU international locations, a phenomenon that’s destroying retail commerce,” Italian Minister of Economic system Giancarlo Giorgetti stated on Thursday.
EuroCommerce, which represents EU retailers in Brussels, first sounded the alarm over the rise in orders coming from Chinese language platforms final month and known as on European authorities to behave in a coordinated method.
“A swift, harmonised EU resolution is important, as such proposals danger fragmentation and undermining the extent enjoying discipline,” Christel Delberghe, director normal of EuroCommerce, stated.
