Overview
- EU finance ministers adopted a flat €3 levy on packages valued under €150, effective 1 July 2026, as a stopgap ahead of broader customs reforms.
- The charge applies to non‑EU sellers registered in the Import One‑Stop Shop for VAT, covering about 93% of cross‑border e‑commerce flows, according to the Council.
- Member states opted for a fixed fee over a value‑based charge, following a French proposal praised by Finance Minister Roland Lescure.
- The measure serves as an interim tool until a permanent system and the full removal of the long‑standing €150 exemption are in place, which the EU expects by 2028.
- A separate European Commission proposal for a €2 per‑package management fee remains under discussion and has not been approved, while 2024 saw about 4.6 billion low‑value parcels with roughly 91% originating from China.