In 2024, approximately 4.6 billion parcels worth less than €150 were shipped to the European market, or more than 145 per second. Of these, 91% came from China. This explosion in online commerce, facilitated by attractive prices and reduced delivery times, has put pressure on European customs services.
Objectives of the tax: to finance controls and restore fairness
According to Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade, this tax of €2 per low-value parcel (less than €150) aims to offset the costs generated by the customs controls required to deal with the massive influx of these small parcels. The aim is also to restore fair competition for European retailers, particularly SMEs, who comply with the standards in force in the Union.
France supports this European initiative and had already proposed in April the introduction of “management fees” applied to each imported package. In 2023, 800 million of these small packages were delivered in France. Furthermore, a French bill envisages imposing a tax of 5 euros per item purchased on platforms such as Shein, Temu, or AliExpress, as part of a bonus-malus system aimed at encouraging more sustainable consumption practices.
Reactions from the platforms concerned
Shein has expressed concerns about the impact of these new taxes on prices for French consumers. Quentin Ruffat, spokesperson for Shein France, estimated that these measures could lead to an increase in the prices of their products of around 12 euros by 2030. The platform also highlights the challenges that these regulations pose to their business model based on low prices and direct deliveries from China.
This tax is part of a broader reform of the European customs system, with the objective of removing the customs duty exemption for packages under 150 euros by 2028. The European Union thus wishes to strengthen the security of the common market, improve controls on imported products and move towards greater digitalization of the customs system.
Still, this proposed tax of 2 euros per package marks a turning point in the regulation of online commerce in Europe, aiming to adapt the rules to new market realities and to protect consumers as well as local economic actors.
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