
On Tuesday, Sefcovic introduced a proposal to the European Parliament aimed at addressing the influx of low-cost packages entering the EU. He suggested that online platforms should pay a fee of 2 euros for each package valued under 150 euros, primarily those imported from China, which currently evade customs duties.
Clarinval noted, “The import tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump have created pressure on international trade, leading China to potentially shift a significant portion of its trade from the U.S. to the EU, which could result in an overwhelming influx of packages.” He emphasized that these shipments create unfair competition for European businesses and that the proposed fee would help protect them from both this competition and the disruptions caused by Trump’s tariffs.
In 2024, approximately 4.6 billion packages valued under 150 euros entered the EU, equating to 145 packages per second, with 91 percent originating from China. Sefcovic aims to allocate the funds generated by this fee to enhance customs controls.
Details regarding Sefcovic’s plan, which appears to be at an early stage, were not extensively available from the Commission on Thursday. A spokesperson mentioned that the Commissioner presented the proposal’s direction to the internal market committee, but no timeline has been established yet. The rationale for implementing this fee stems from the overwhelming number of packages facing customs services, indicating a need for additional resources and personnel to manage the rising volume effectively.













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