Starting July 1, 2026, EU consumers must pay a flat 3-euro fee per product group on shipments under 150 euros. The previous exemption ends to regulate the surge in low-value imports.
The European Union is ending duty-free imports for goods valued under 150 euros. A flat fee of 3 euros applies per product group in a shipment. For three T-shirts worth 30 euros the charge is 3 euros; adding a toy raises it to 6 euros.
Sellers or importers handle registration and payment but may pass costs to consumers. Experts including Karolin Junker de Neui of Etribes and Lars Hofacker of the EHI anticipate price increases on platforms. Over 90 percent of the 5.9 billion shipments in 2025 originated from China.
The flat fee is planned to run until July 1, 2028. A digital platform will then enable standard tariff calculations. The EU Commission stresses the goal of fair competition with European companies. Parcel services warn of possible delays from increased controls.
