The European Union proposes a two-euro fee for each small parcel

Has the European Union found the solution to stop being overwhelmed by parcels? The European Commission proposed on Tuesday, May 20, imposing a fee of €2 on every small parcel entering Europe, the vast majority of which comes from China. European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic announced this to the European Parliament on Tuesday, May 20, with the aim of targeting "low-value" parcels (less than €150), which are therefore automatically exempt from customs duties.

For several years, the EU has seen the number of parcels arriving on its soil explode: some 4.6 billion shipments worth less than €150 entered the European market in 2024, or more than 145 every second. Of this total, 91% came from China. This measure was notably called for by France , which proposed at the end of April to charge "handling fees" for each small parcel entering Europe. In France alone, 800 million of these small parcels were delivered in 2024.

The €2 fee would be used to finance customs checks, Commissioner Sefcovic explained. "That's why I wouldn't call these management fees a tax, but simply a way to offset their cost," he said, praising the "enormous" workload of customs officials. This is especially true since these checks are expected to increase in response to the influx of low-value parcels sent from Asia, via platforms such as Shein or Temu . This influx is feared due to the increase in customs duties sought by the United States, particularly on small parcels from China.

In February, the European Commission called for the removal of the customs duty exemption, which dates back to 2010, pointing out, in particular, the risks of importing "dangerous products" and the significant environmental impact of such volumes. Brussels also hopes that part of the revenue generated by the fees on these small packages will be allocated to the EU budget. In addition to the impact of these products on the health and safety of European consumers, the Commission also denounces their impact on the environment and the distortions of competition with European traders, particularly SMEs, who comply with EU standards.