European finance ministers agreed on Thursday to bring forward to next year customs duties on low-value parcels arriving in the bloc to crack down on cheap Chinese e-commerce imports, in a move set to hit Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu.
The agreement to introduce duties as soon as possible in 2026 by finance ministers meeting in Brussels sets up negotiations with the European Parliament, whose approval is also required.
The European Union is trying to act faster as concern grows over Chinese goods being dumped in Europe.
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The agreement was welcomed across Europe.
“Ending the exemption will close long-standing loopholes that have been systematically been exploited to avoid customs duties,” Denmark’s economy minister Stephanie Lose told a news conference.
German online retailer Zalando, among those pushing the EU to act, said in a statement that the removal of the exemption should be fast-tracked.
Sweden’s retail industry association and Germany’s e-commerce association separately said the finance ministers’ agreement was a first step towards making competition more fair.
Luca Sburlati, chairman of Italy’s fashion lobby Confindustria Moda, said the taxation of parcels under €150 is “essential for the survival of our textile and clothing sector”.
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Shein declined to comment, while Temu, AliExpress, and Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Shein is facing legal proceedings in France over the sale of child-like sex dolls on its platform.
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You’ll still be able to get things from China, you’ll just have to stuff the pockets of a middleman while doing so, for no good reason.
That’s exactly my point. This doesn’t solve any other problem except make EU citizens pay the government for the right to purchase goods without solving any of the underlying problems. It doesn’t stop sweatshops from existing or make those products any safer etc.