EU introduces €3 customs charge on small parcels to curb cheap Chinese imports

The European Commission has said it hopes to prevent the “desertification” of Europe’s high streets, as it prepares to introduce a customs tax on small parcels in an attempt to curb cheap Chinese imports. Consumers have been able to buy up to €150 (£129) worth of goods, including fast fashion, cosmetics and toys, without any customs charges as part of a “de minimis” exemption, a tariff break meaning “too small to matter”. From Wednesday, small parcels under that value will be subject to the new €3 customs charge and officials are hoping the end of de minimis will slow the rapid rise in imports from China. They said on Monday the number of low value parcels coming into the bloc had more than quadrupled, from 1.3bn in 2022 to 5.9bn in 2025. About 90% of the parcels are coming from China, with competition from online including platforms Shein and Temu hitting European retailers hard. Online shopping had “contributed to the decline of traditional retail and the desertification of cities, affecting local jobs and community life”, a senior official said on Monday. Last year civil society consumer groups said EU cities and town were facing “an avalanche of cheap imports shipped by Temu, Shein and other third-country e-commerce platforms”, which were threatening to devastate the European economy and forcing businesses to close. The EU justice commissioner, Michael McGrath, also expressed “shock” at the dangers of some of the items entering the EU through the de minimis route. …