From July 1, 2026, the EU will introduce a temporary €3 customs duty on low-value parcels imported from outside the bloc, mainly through e-commerce. The measure covers a wide range of products commonly bought online, including clothing, toys, electronics and other consumer goods worth up to €150 (US$170).
The European Commission says millions of low-value parcels enter the EU every day, with many containing products that do not meet EU safety standards or that are undervalued or falsely declared to avoid customs duties. The Commission also said the current customs duty exemption gives non-EU sellers an unfair advantage over businesses that manufacture or sell products within the EU.
The new duty will apply per item, based on tariff classification rather than quantity. For example, buying five T-shirts would incur a single €3 customs duty, as all the T-shirts fall under the same tariff classification. Buying three T-shirts and a watch, however, would incur a €6 duty, as the T-shirts and the watch fall under different tariff classifications.
The seller or importer will be responsible for declaring and paying the duty as part of the customs process.
The Commission said the measure is intended to help create fairer competition for EU businesses, better protect consumers from unsafe products, tackle customs fraud and address environmental concerns linked to mass shipping.
It added that the EU is working to modernize customs procedures to strengthen the single market and ensure that all businesses selling into the EU compete on equal terms while meeting the bloc’s safety and compliance standards.
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