Starting July 1, 2026, shopping on platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress will become more expensive. The European Union is scrapping the customs exemption for shipments worth up to 150 euros from outside the bloc, replacing it with a 3 euro fee per item in each package.
Under the new rules, the 3 euro charge applies not to the whole parcel but to each separate commodity code. A box with three identical cotton T-shirts counts as one item, costing 3 euros. But a package containing a T-shirt, a sweater, and a phone case – three different items – will be charged 9 euros. In extreme cases, the customs fee could exceed the total value of the ordered goods, especially for cheap accessories and gadgets.
The reform is a response to an explosion in low-value imports. In 2024 alone, around 4.6 billion small parcels entered the EU – nearly double the previous year. Most came from China. Poland is one of the biggest markets for Temu, which has over 13 million users in the country. The old 150-euro exemption was originally designed to reduce bureaucracy, but it became a loophole for undervaluation and order splitting.
New fee for each item, not per package
According to Piotr Juszczyk, chief tax advisor at inFakt, the European Commission decided that in the era of digital customs declarations the administrative burden argument no longer holds. The exemption was frequently abused to understate the value of goods or to break orders into smaller parcels. Starting July 2026, each delivery from outside the EU will require a full customs clearance and standard tax obligations, meaning higher administrative costs for businesses.
The changes will also affect e-commerce companies. They will have to submit full customs declarations for every shipment, which may lead to higher operational costs and force them to consolidate shipments or move some warehousing and fulfillment operations inside the EU. This could limit the price advantage of direct deliveries from China.
What this means for consumers and businesses
The 3 euro fee is only a temporary measure until July 2028. From November 2026, an additional EU handling charge is expected to appear. The ultimate goal is to abolish the 150-euro threshold entirely, so that customs duties apply from the very first euro of value. Platforms like Temu and Shein are likely to pass the costs on to consumers or shift toward a 'full-cost pricing’ model where the final price already includes all duties.
Another possible reaction is expanding EU-based warehouses, which would speed up deliveries but reduce the price gap between Asian imports and local products. Brussels says the main aim is to level the playing field for European retailers, who have always faced duties, storage costs, and full tax compliance while some non-EU players enjoyed preferential treatment for small shipments.
The reform is the first step of the biggest overhaul of the EU customs system in decades. For Polish consumers who have grown used to cheap, fast deliveries from China, the summer of 2026 marks the end of an era.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Arcady / Shutterstock
