Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union needs to address small parcels coming from China, Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen said on Thursday. He added that he will talk with other EU finance ministers about starting to apply customs duties to packages worth less than 150 euros as well.
“We need to get a grip on small parcels coming to EU from China,”
Heinen told reporters ahead of a meeting with his European counterparts held in Brussels.
On the other hand, as reported by Reuters, the European Union also aims to speed up the elimination of a 150-euro threshold. Below this amount, Europe does not impose customs duties on parcels entering the bloc. This move targets low-cost Chinese imports.
Why did Maros Sefcovic urge faster implementation of reforms?
In a letter to the EU finance minister, Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic suggested that the “de minimis” threshold be removed in the first quarter of 2026. This is two years sooner than originally scheduled.
“As things currently stand, the actual abolition of the de minimis threshold will only take place in mid-2028. This timeline is incompatible with the urgency of the situation and with our shared interests,”
the letter from Sefcovic said.
“If we act with the required political determination and pragmatism, a workable solution could be put in place for Q1, 2026,” he said.
Faced with 4.6 billion small packages arriving in Europe each year, mostly from China, the Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is under pressure from local companies to reduce that flow more quickly. EU finance ministers are set to discuss the proposals on Thursday.
How will the proposed two-euro flat fee work?
In May, the European Union proposed a two-euro flat fee on billions of small packages sent directly to people’s homes. Most of these packages currently come from China. The new tax meant that packages worth less than 150 euros are no longer customs-free. Online marketplaces, including Chinese giants Temu and Shein, are expected to pay the fee, said EU Trade Commissioner Mar
Comments
20 responses to “EU Weighs Customs Duties on Low-Value Chinese Parcels”
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Looks like our dear EU is finally waking up to the fact that those low-value parcels from China aren’t just a bargain, but a ticking time bomb of paperwork! Just what we needed – more fees for our “affordable” treasures. 🙄💸
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Looks like the EU is finally putting its foot down on all those pesky little parcels from China – who knew duty could be so much fun? 😂 Next, they’ll be charging us for breathing too!
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Customs duties on low-value Chinese parcels? Brilliant! Because nothing says “Welcome to Europe” quite like making online shopping feel like a trip through customs at the airport. 😂
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Looks like the EU is finally waking up to the fact that those “little treasures” from China are costing us more than just delivery fees. 🤷♂️ Next thing you know, they’ll be taxing us for breathing the air too! 🍃💸
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we needed—more taxes on my cheap Chinese trinkets. I can’t wait to pay a premium for my “low-value” goods while sipping my overpriced espresso in the heart of Brussels. ☕💸
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we need, more red tape for the tiny parcels! Guess we’ll see if the new customs duties come with a complimentary headache. 🙄💸
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Looks like the EU’s finally decided to put their foot down on those pesky little parcels from China—who knew? Next, they’ll be charging us a fee for breathing! 😂
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Oh brilliant, just what we needed—more taxes on the cheap thrills from China! I suppose the EU thinks we’ll all start buying our trinkets in local artisanal shops instead, right? 😏💸
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Oh great, just what we needed – a tax on those delightful little parcels from China. Because who wouldn’t want to pay more for the joy of waiting for a 5-euro gadget to arrive? 😂
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Oh, great, just what we needed – another way to make sure our doorstep looks like a parcel graveyard. Maybe next, they’ll tax the air we breathe to keep the economy afloat! 😏📦
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Looks like the EU’s finally decided that tiny parcels from China are a bit like uninvited guests—always showing up when you least want them. 😂 Next thing you know, we’ll be charging them for the air they breathe!
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Typical EU, always tackling the real issues like my cousin’s dodgy eBay habits instead of, say, the energy crisis. But hey, at least the postman will get a workout sorting through all those “vital” trinkets! 😂📦
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Aye, just what we needed – another layer of red tape to enjoy while we sip our espresso! 🍵 Because who doesn’t love waiting for their 10 euro trinkets to get a VIP customs treatment? 😂
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Looks like the EU is finally waking up to the fact that those “low-value” parcels from China aren’t just cheap trinkets, eh? Can’t wait to see how this grand plan to tax a mountain of 4.6 billion small packages is going to magically fix our economy! 😂
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Isn’t it just delightful that the EU is finally waking up to the flood of tiny parcels from China? I mean, who doesn’t love a good customs fee on a pair of socks that cost less than a pint? 😏
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we needed—more bureaucracy to ensure that even our cheap Chinese trinkets are taxed to high heaven. 😏 Can’t wait for the “luxury” experience of paying duties on my 5-euro phone case!
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Looks like the EU’s finally decided that our tiny trinkets from China need a bit more love – can’t let a few euros slip through the cracks, right? 🤷♂️ Next up, maybe they’ll tax the air we breathe! 💨💸
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Oh great, just what we needed – a new tax on parcels from China, because who doesn’t love a good bureaucratic headache over a pair of socks? 😂💸 Better buckle up, folks, it seems the cost of cheap thrills is about to skyrocket!
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Oh, brilliant! Just when we thought our mailboxes could only handle love letters and bills, here comes the EU with a grand plan for customs duties on trinkets from China. Maybe next they’ll tax the air we breathe while they’re at it! 😂💸
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we needed – a tax on cheap Chinese goodies. Because nothing says “European unity” like making sure our online shopping carts feel a bit heavier. 😏💰
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