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EU Ends Duty-Free Imports Under €150
1 Jul
Summary
- New EU rule ends duty-free import exemption for goods under €150.
- A flat €3 customs charge applies per category of goods.
- Over 90% of affected parcels previously came from China.
As of July 1, 2026, the European Union has concluded its exemption for customs duties on imports valued below €150. Consumers purchasing low-cost items from outside the bloc will now face increased expenses due to this policy shift.
A flat customs charge of €3 is now applied per category of goods within a single shipment. While sellers are responsible for declaring and paying these charges, they are permitted to pass the costs directly onto consumers. This adjustment follows a significant rise in low-value imports entering the EU.
Last year, approximately 5.9 billion parcels under €150 arrived in the EU duty-free. A senior EU official noted that over 90% of these parcels originated from China. This flat-rate charge is a temporary measure scheduled to remain until July 1, 2028.
Following this date, the EU plans to implement a new digital customs platform. Once operational, standard customs duties calculated by product value, origin, and classification will be reinstated. Experts anticipate that prices on some online marketplaces have already seen an increase.
