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France’s €2 Parcel Tax Is Skirted as E-Commerce Flights Shift to Benelux Hubs

Platforms now route shipments through Belgium to exploit EU free movement.

Overview

  • Customs e-commerce declarations at Roissy fell about 92% within days, and roughly 50 weekly cargo flights from China no longer land in Paris, according to industry and airport figures.
  • Parcels are now flown to Liège and other neighboring EU airports and trucked into France, undercutting the levy and jeopardizing projected 2026 receipts estimated at €400–500 million.
  • French freight depots stand largely empty at hubs such as Roissy and Vatry, with idle staff and contractors facing lost work as logistics operators report activity collapsing overnight.
  • The government presents the national charge as a bridge to EU action, pointing to a €3 flat customs duty due on 1 July and wider European rules by late 2026, while Italy has suspended a similar tax.
  • Shein is building out EU logistics with a large site reported in Poland that critics say could blunt per‑item fees; the company says it complies with all taxes, and Temu did not respond to requests.