New customs duty on low-value online parcels raises costs for European shoppers as cost-of-living pressures persist
BRUSSELS, July 7, 2026 — As of 1 July 2026, millions of European consumers are facing higher prices at checkout following the EU’s introduction of a €3 customs duty on low-value parcel imports from outside the bloc. The charge applies per tariff classification on goods valued under €150, targeting high volumes of clothing, electronics, and household goods purchased via platforms such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. The measure is set to remain in place until July 2028.
The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) is calling on EU policymakers to recognize that, despite being framed as a measure to level the playing field for European businesses, the policy directly increases consumer costs, particularly for lower-income households that rely on affordable online shopping options from non-EU retailers.
The duty removes the long-standing customs exemption for parcels under €150, a rule established long before the rise of modern e-commerce. While domestic retailers have long argued that non-EU platforms benefit from an unfair cost advantage, EU institutions have justified the reform on grounds of product safety, counterfeit risks, and market fairness. However, consumer advocates warn that the policy reduces purchasing power at a time when households across Europe continue to face significant cost-of-living pressures. Combined with the handling fee, the new charges could add €5 or more to a typical small order, with multi-category purchases incurring even higher costs due to the per-classification structure.
Zoltán Kész, Government Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center, said: “The EU has effectively introduced a new tax on consumers’ shopping carts while presenting it as consumer protection. The €3 duty per tariff classification, on top of a forthcoming €2 handling fee, will ultimately be paid by European shoppers, not foreign sellers. Those with tighter budgets who depend on affordable online options will feel the impact most. Consumers should be free to shop where they find the best value, yet this policy makes that increasingly difficult by design.”