The Piraeus Traders Association has welcomed the implementation of the new European regime on low-value parcel imports from third countries, which will take effect on July 1, 2026, but warned that key structural issues remain unresolved.Under the new framework, a temporary customs fee of 3 euros per product category will be imposed on shipments valued up to 150 euros.The association said the measure represents a positive step, describing it as the first meaningful EU-level intervention aimed at addressing the rapid rise in imports via international e-commerce platforms.“It is a step in the right direction, resulting also from long-standing interventions by European and Greek trade bodies,” the association said. However, it added that the measure alone is not sufficient to restore fair competition between European businesses and non-EU online platforms.According to industry data cited by the association, around 5.8 billion small parcels entered the European Union in 2025, with more than 90% originating from China.The surge in cross-border e-commerce has created significant market distortions, placing pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises in Greece and across Europe, it said.The association noted that, based on current EU clarifications, the new fee will not necessarily be charged directly to consumers but will be collected through platform liability rules and sellers registered under the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) system. Whether the cost is absorbed by platforms or passed on to final prices will depend on each company’s commercial policy.However, it stressed that the most important issue remains unresolved.“Millions of products continue to enter the European market without any practical guarantee that they comply to the same degree with EU safety, quality and consumer protection standards that European businesses are required to meet,” the association said.