€2 here, €3 there: EU adds another charge to cheap online shopping

Brussels, on November 1st, has introduced a €2 handling fee for packages shipped from outside the European Union, aimed at reducing the influx predominantly from China. This fee is in addition to the existing €3 duty on small parcels worth less than €150. The new levy applies to each item in a package, regardless of the parcel's total value.

For instance, a package containing 10 T-shirts would incur a €2 fee, while a package with two hats and 10 T-shirts would have a €4 charge. The EU insists that European consumers will not directly pay the handling fee, but online retailers could potentially pass it on. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) expressed concerns that some platforms might attempt to add this cost at the final stages of the purchase, which would be illegal under EU law.

The EU claims that nearly six billion small packages entered the bloc last year, with 93% originating from China, thus straining customs authorities and raising their costs. This fee is intended to compensate for these increased efforts. Since the €3 duty on small parcels was implemented in July, imports have dropped by around 64%, though officials caution it is premature to draw definitive conclusions.

Additionally, there are concerns about "unsafe" non-EU products entering Europe, such as toys that do not meet the bloc's standards. The handling fee is permanent, but the €3 duty on low-value packages is temporary, lasting until July 1, 2028, when standard customs tariffs will apply. The EU will reassess the handling fee's amount every two years to ensure its proportionality to customs operations within the bloc.