France Proposes Handling Fees for Imported Parcels from China
France intends to impose tax on affordable Chinese products, marketed online.
Get ready to pocket a few extra "euros" for every package you order from platforms like Temu and Shein! The predominant source of these billions of small packages that enter the EU every year? You guessed it - China!
In 2024 alone, about 4.6 billion packages, with each one worth under 150 euros, made their way into the EU. That's 145 packages every second! A whopping 91% of these packages came straight from the East. France received an astounding 800 million such packages in 2021! So, what's about to change for these budget-friendly goodies?
Here's the lowdown: France plans to introduce a flat handling fee for each imported parcel. This fee could amount to "a few euros" per package or "a few cents" per item, as stated by the French Minister of Public Accounts, Amelie de Montchalin. But fear not, consumers, this fee would not be chargeable by you; instead, it's expected to be the responsibility of the importers and platforms.
The proposed fee aims to cover the cost of customs inspections, particularly in light of the rise in counterfeit goods. France might kick off this initiative next year, with the collected fees financing the checks at points of entry. France is hoping to rally other EU members to this idea, as they recognize the potential for platforms to avoid such a fee if left alone.
The current customs-free status of packages worth less than 150 euros could be phased out by 2028. Until then, France intends to use these fees to stem the tide of cheap goods that, according to some EU sectors, undercut local businesses and enable counterfeiting.
It's worth noting that this isn't the first time countries have moved to combat ultra-cheap imports. The US has led the charge by ending its $800 de minimis exemption for Chinese parcels on May 2, 2025. Now, tariffs reach an eye-watering 145% on certain goods.
Stay tuned as the EU gets ready to face the wave of inexpensive goods from China head-on!
- The proposed handling fee for imported parcels from China, as suggested by France, could potentially add a few euros or a few cents per package or item.
- France received an astounding 800 million parcels from China in 2021, contributing significantly to the EU's influx of packages.
- The French Minister of Public Accounts, Amelie de Montchalin, has stated that the introduced fee would not be the consumer's responsibility but the importers and platforms instead.
- The fee aims to cover the cost of customs inspections, address the rise in counterfeit goods, and potentially stem the tide of cheap goods that undercut local EU businesses and enable counterfeiting.
- France plans to rally other EU members to this idea, recognizing the potential for platforms to avoid such a fee if left alone.
- The EU, following France's lead, is getting ready to face the wave of inexpensive goods from China head-on, with the US having already ended its $800 de minimis exemption for Chinese parcels on May 2, 2025.
