EU Introduces New €3 Customs Fee on Parcels from Amazon, Temu and Others

On July 1, 2026, a new customs fee on parcels worth up to 150 euros from countries outside the EU came into force in the European Union. This means that orders on Shein, Temu, AliExpress, and other platforms from third countries have become more expensive. The measure targets what Brussels considers unfair competition from Asian platforms.

In 2025, 16 million such parcels arrived in the EU every day — for a total of 5.9 billion euros, compared with 1.4 billion euros in 2020. Parcels worth up to 150 euros make up 97% of the total number of imported parcels, but only 2% of their value. According to the European Commission, 65% of the cosmetics arriving from Chinese online platforms do not meet EU standards. The picture is similar to dietary supplements, toys, small electronics, and personal protective equipment.

An important nuance: the 3-euro fee is charged not for the entire order as a whole, but for each category of goods in the parcel. The European TARIC customs classification determines the categories. If the tariff codes differ, the goods will be classified into different categories.

For example, if you order three identical T-shirts, the fee will be 3 euros, since they're all in one category. If the same order includes a T-shirt, a bag, and sneakers, the surcharge will already be 9 euros — 3 euros for each type of product. The more different types of products in the order, the higher the total fee.

The seller or importer is required to pay the fee, but the platforms may include this sum in the final price of the product or the shipping cost — meaning that in practice the fee will fall on the buyer.

The measure applies to all countries outside the EU, but it will hit Chinese platforms hardest — they account for 93% of parcels of this kind. Shein holds 11% of the Spanish online fashion market, ahead of Zara (6%) and H&M (3%).

The fee is temporary in nature and will be in effect until 2028, when the launch of the EU Customs Data Hub is planned. In November 2026, a new digital import management system will additionally come into operation, with an extra fee of around 2 euros per parcel.