EU Fee Targets Asian E-commerce Parcels

According to Reuters, EU customs authorities processed approximately 4.6 billion small e-shop parcels in 2024. Of these, up to 91% came from China, representing a twofold increase compared to the previous year. The massive surge in orders from platforms like Shein, Temu and Alibaba has created pressure for stricter rules.

What’s the Commission proposing?

• €2 fee for each parcel delivered directly to customers from abroad
• €0.50 fee for parcels processed in warehouses within the EU
• Maintaining duty exemption on parcels up to €150 until 2028, though the Commission has suggested this limit should be scrapped in future

The fee is meant to cover customs authorities’ costs in ensuring compliance with European regulations, such as toy safety or product quality standards. The proposal still needs approval from the European Parliament and member states. France has already backed the measure.

E-commerce impact

According to Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, processing billions of parcels without proper checks is unsustainable. That’s why he considers it fair to ask for contributions from major platforms like Temu, Shein and Alibaba.

The proposal also specifies that sellers, not customers, should bear the fee. This aims to maintain price transparency on platforms.

The European Commission’s proposal has been welcomed by several European players. Zalando has backed it but also calls for faster scrapping of the duty exemption on parcels up to €150.

Polish e-commerce leader Allegro has called the proposal a step in the right direction, emphasising that specific implementation conditions will be crucial. It particularly points out that the preferential 50-cent fee for goods processed in European warehouses could favour large global firms with extensive infrastructure, whilst smaller businesses would continue paying the full rate.

Germany’s retail association HDE has made similar comments, welcoming the proposal as a tool for tackling unfair competition but likewise calling for complete abolition of the duty exemption.

Europe is also taking inspiration from developments in the US, where the duty exemption on parcels up to $800 was scrapped this month. American policy thus signals a stricter stance towards cheap cross-border shopping.

After years of criticism, concrete action arrives

Introducing the handling fee is a clear signal that the EU wants to level the playing field between domestic and foreign sellers. Direct imports of cheap goods from Asia now face fresh barriers and are no longer as advantageous as before. For global platforms, this means needing to reassess logistics, pricing policy and tax arrangements if they want to keep growing in Europe.

From the perspective of European e-shops and associations that have long criticised Chinese giants for systematically dodging taxes, different regulatory burdens and dumping prices, this represents a welcome turnaround. After years of complaints, calls and analyses, the first concrete measure that could actually change market reality has arrived.