EU imposes a 3-euro fee on small packages to stop shipments of Chinese apps

Brussels. The Finance Ministers of the European Union (EU) agreed yesterday to impose, starting next July 1, a tariff of 3 euros (3.5 dollars) on all small packages entering the countries of the bloc.

The measure, which will apply to shipments of less than 150 euros ($174), seeks to stop the avalanche of packages sent by low-cost Asian platforms such as Shein, Temu or AliExpress.

In 2024, around 4.6 billion packages worth less than 150 euros entered the European market, which is equivalent to more than 145 every second. Of that total, 91 percent came from China.

A month ago, the finance ministers of the 27 countries that make up the EU approved eliminating, starting next year, the tariff exemption from which these small packages benefited.

European producers and merchants increasingly denounce this massive flow of imported packages without tariffs, which they consider to be a form of unfair competition.

In addition, they point out that many times, the products do not comply with European standards.

The rate will be applied temporarily until the bloc finds a permanent solution to taxing these types of imports, an EU spokesperson said.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure celebrated the new tax, calling it a “great victory for the European Union.”

This measure is the first step in an EU offensive against the avalanche of Chinese products, since to this should be added, as of November 2026, the establishment of management fees on those same shipments of less than 150 euros. Brussels proposed in May to set them at 2 euros per package.