The era of duty-free shopping from SHEIN, Temu and AliExpress is ending. From 1 July, the EU is scrapping the customs exemption that let parcels worth under €150 enter the bloc tax-free, and introducing a flat €3 duty per item instead.
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The change targets a system the Commission says has been quietly distorting the market for years. More than two billion small parcels arrive in the EU annually, most valued below €150; Brussels estimates a large share carry incorrect valuations or unclear safety information.
By shipping millions of individual orders straight from China, platforms avoided import duties altogether, a loophole regulators say gave them an unfair advantage over EU retailers.
The new duty applies per product category, so a basket containing several items could see multiple €3 charges at checkout. A proposed €2 handling fee may follow later this year, alongside tighter digital screening at the border that could slow deliveries.
Platforms will also become “deemed importers,” making them legally responsible for product safety and liable for penalties if items fail EU standards.
It won’t end fast fashion or stop online shopping. But by 2028, when the €150 exemption disappears entirely, ultra-cheap imports may finally carry their true cost.
