EU plans two-euro flat fee on small parcels from outside bloc

The EU interest would region the customs-free presumption of packages worthy little than 150 euros that are imported straight to consumers. Photo: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP/File
Source: AFP

The EU said Tuesday that it was preparing to enforce a two-euro ($2.25) level interest connected the billions of low-value packages that flood into the bloc each year, the large bulk from China.

Trade main Maros Sefcovic told the European Parliament that e-commerce platforms would beryllium expected to wage the levy per parcel, which aims to assistance the European Union tackle the challenges from the monolithic influx of inexpensive items.

The interest would region the customs-free presumption of packages worthy little than 150 euros that are imported straight to consumers, often via platforms similar Chinese-founded Temu and Shein.

Parcels sent straight to warehouses wherever they are stored successful the EU would look a little interest of 50 cents, Sefcovic said.

Last year, 4.6 cardinal specified tiny packages entered the EU -- much than 145 per 2nd -- with 91 percent originating successful China. The EU expects the numbers to rise.

Platforms, including Shein and Temu, are suspected by Brussels of not doing capable to forestall the merchantability of products that bash not conscionable European standards.

The EU besides fears that galore of the products imported into the 27-country bloc are unsafe, counterfeit and perchance adjacent unsafe to consumers.

Sefcovic said the fig represented a "completely caller situation to the control, to the safety, to making definite that the standards are decently checked of the products which are shipped to the European Union".

European retailers accidental they look unfair contention from overseas platforms, which they assertion bash not often comply with the EU's stringent rules connected products.

'Compensate cost'

Sefcovic noted the "huge" workload for customs officials, "therefore I wouldn't look astatine the handling interest arsenic a tax, simply the interest to compensate the cost".

Brussels besides hopes portion of the revenues from the interest volition spell towards the EU budget.

Paris is particularly acrophobic astir the issue: astir 800 cardinal specified packages were shipped to France unsocial past year.

Last month, France said it wanted to commencement charging non-EU online sellers a handling interest per bundle until 2028 -- aft which the EU is expected to signifier retired the customs-free status.

Shein and Temu did not instantly respond to AFP requests for comment.

The United States ended tariff exemptions earlier this period for goods shipped from China worthy little than $800, which are to look a levy of 54 percent.

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Source: AFP