What to expect as EU small parcel levy kicks in
(FILES) An internet user checks the Asian e-commerce giant Shein website page on a laptop in Paris on Nov. 5, 2025.
The European Union will slap a three-euro ($3.40) duty on cheap parcels entering the 27-nation bloc on Wednesday to stem a surge in low-value packages, mainly from China.
The European Commission, in charge of EU trade policy, says the step is about slashing the financial burden on customs duties after the explosion in imports, and tackling the safety risks from unchecked goods.
Nearly six billion small retail packages entered the bloc last year from abroad -- most of them from China, and increasingly via wildly popular online platforms like Shein and Temu -- up from 4.6 billion in 2024.
