The European Union has taken its first step to limit what it considers unfair competition from online platforms like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. The EU is imposing a fee of 3 euros on low-cost products imported from China that previously entered the Union duty-free.
According to Reuters, this move is yet another blow to online platforms that have benefited from customs exemptions to sell products at extremely low prices. This business model has allowed them to achieve rapid growth but has simultaneously caused dissatisfaction among European retail representatives and politicians. The United States, which is the largest market for these platforms, had already eliminated the de minimis rule for imports from China in May, and by the end of August, this decision was extended to all imports.
The new fee will be charged for each individual product category listed in the customs declaration. For example, if a package contains products from three different categories, the total fee will amount to 9 euros. If the package only contains a few dresses or toys, only a single fee of 3 euros will be charged.
The article notes that the exemption system for low-cost products has been in place for several decades, with the current threshold of 150 euros established in 2008. However, according to Reuters, the number of online orders imported into the European Union under this exemption has sharply increased from 1.4 billion in 2022 to 5.8 billion in 2025.
“This exemption was being abused on an industrial scale to gain a competitive advantage at the expense of European businesses,” said Dirk Gootink, a member of the European Parliament who oversees customs legislation reform, in an interview with Reuters.
Derek Losing, a consultant in electronic commerce and air freight, stated that after the new fees come into effect, the volume of air freight for electronic commerce products in the EU could decrease by 10-35% within just a few weeks.
The Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress, owned by Alibaba, has already announced that in relevant cases, a note stating “Price includes customs duties and VAT” will be placed next to the products. For other products, buyers will see a detailed calculation of import fees before completing their order.
Reuters notes that this 3-euro fee is temporary. It is expected to be replaced by a system of tariffs, the amount of which will depend on the product category starting from July 1, 2028.
