EU finance ministers have reached political agreement to abolish the long-standing customs duty exemption on low-value goods entering the bloc. At present, items worth less than €150 can be shipped directly to consumers across the EU without attracting import duties, a rule that has become increasingly exploited by high-volume retail platforms such as Temu and Shein.
Governments across the EU, supported by the European Commission, now want this exemption removed far sooner than previously planned. While the initial proposal would have pushed the change out to 2028, several member states have called for an accelerated timeline, aiming for implementation as early as the beginning of next year.
An EU official stated that work is under way on a simplified interim approach that would allow the earlier start date. Finance ministers intend to endorse the necessary measures formally at their upcoming meeting on 12 December.
France has been one of the strongest advocates for swift action. Its finance minister described the development as a significant step for consumer protection and for reducing the risk of non-compliant or unsafe products entering the European market. He also framed the move as part of a broader effort to reinforce the EU’s economic autonomy.
The scale of the issue has grown sharply. According to the European Commission, e-commerce imports have surged, with around 4.6 billion small parcels arriving in the EU last year alone. Officials say the trend is continuing upward at pace.
In addition to abolishing the exemption, the Commission has previously proposed introducing a handling charge of €2 per parcel. Member states have not yet settled on a final figure, although the intention is to bring the fee into effect before the end of 2026. Some countries have already introduced their own measures, including Romania, which has implemented a €5 levy on low-value packages.
These changes signal a broader tightening of customs controls as the EU responds to the rapid growth of cross-border online shopping and seeks a level playing field for European businesses.
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