Introduction
Starting next Wednesday, the European Union will add a €3 surcharge to every low‑cost item bought online from sellers outside the EU. The rule applies to anything under €150 and is aimed at curbing the flood of cheap parcels that have overwhelmed customs offices. The measure, often called the “Shein rate,” will begin on July 1 and is expected to affect popular platforms such as AliExpress, Shein and others.
How the new rate works
- Flat fee per product type – Each distinct item (based on its EU tariff code) triggers a €3 charge.
- Examples
- Buying three identical T‑shirts → €3 total.
- Buying three T‑shirts plus a pencil (different tariff code) → €6 total.
- Who pays? – Brussels says the seller should cover the fee, but in practice the cost is usually passed on to the shopper.
- Why duplicate fees? – If two products share the same purpose but differ in material (e.g., a silk blouse vs. a wool blouse), they receive different Taric codes, so the surcharge applies twice.
A barrage of packages
Before this change, parcels under €150 entered the EU duty‑free. The result:
- Volume explosion – Around 5,900 different low‑value articles arrived daily in 2025, translating to roughly 16 million packages each day.
- Growth trend – Package numbers have more than quadrupled in three years, from 1.39 billion in 2022 to an estimated > 5 billion projected for 2026.
- National impact – Spain alone sees over 180 million incoming parcels per year, according to the State Tax Administration Agency.
- Pandemic boost – COVID‑19 lockdowns drove many teens to shop on AliExpress and Shein for cheap entertainment, and Chinese manufacturers have since improved quality while keeping prices low.
Loss of competitiveness in the EU
The EU argues that the duty‑free loophole harms local businesses:
- Price disparity – European makers cannot match the ultra‑low prices of imported goods.
- Economic side effects – The Commission describes a “great loss of competitiveness” and “destruction of activity” among EU retailers.
- Legislative timeline – Originally slated for 2028, the measure was fast‑tracked to 2026 as an interim step while a full customs union reform (including a new European Customs Authority) is prepared for 2028.
- Future plan – After the reform, the flat €3 fee will be replaced by standard customs duties that vary by product type.
Conclusion
The EU’s new €3 surcharge targets the surge of inexpensive online orders from outside Europe, aiming to ease customs congestion and level the playing field for European producers. While the fee may raise the cost of favorite fast‑fashion and tech items for teens, it is presented as a temporary fix until a more comprehensive customs overhaul takes effect in 2028.
Reference: Source
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