The EU is imposing a new tax on parcels from outside the bloc. From November 1, each shipment will be charged an additional two euros

Parcels ordered from outside the European Union will be subject to a new two-euro tax from November 1, regardless of the value of the products inside. The measure is aimed in particular at the huge volume of online shopping originating from China and is justified by the increasing costs borne by customs services for processing and checking shipments. The new tax is in addition to the three-euro tax applied since July to parcels with a value of less than 150 euros, Euronews reports.

The decision comes amid a sharp increase in imports of cheap products sold through platforms such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress. European authorities argue that the very large number of these shipments generates additional costs for customs services and creates an uneven playing field for traders in the European Union.

The two-euro tax will be paid by online platforms, sellers or carriers and will be collected by the 27 member states. Of the revenues obtained, 75% will go to the European Union budget, and 25% will remain with the member states.

In parallel, the three-euro fee introduced in July will continue to be applied until 2028, when a new customs IT system is scheduled to come into operation.

According to the European Commission, the measures implemented since July led to a 60% drop in the number of small parcels entering the EU between July and September. However, the volume remains very high: around five million parcels arrive on the European market every day. In 2024, 91% of these shipments came from China.