Ordering Shein and Temu parcels to Germany will soon be more expensive

The European Union will soon impose a 2-euro processing fee on low-value imports. The new levy is separate from a similar 3-euro duty introduced on July 1, 2026.

EU introduces new levy on low-quality imports

Under the plan, an extra 2 euros per item will be added to cover the rising costs European customs services face when processing and checking low-value imports from outside the EU.

Combined with the 3-euro customs duty introduced on July 1, shoppers will pay a total surcharge of 5 euros per item category.

Crucially, the levy applies per product type, not per parcel. For example, a single order containing a phone charger, a T-shirt and a book will incur three separate fees totalling 15 euros in surcharges, on top of standard 21 percent VAT. 

The European Parliament and European Council have one month to review the plan; approval is widely expected before it takes effect in early November.

Impact of the existing 3-euro levy

While the EU is yet to release official information about the impact of the 3-euro levy introduced in July, some countries have given updates.

According to Dutch broadcaster RTL, in July 2026, the first month the fee was introduced, imports of low-value items from outside the EU dropped by 60 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

Despite the sharp decline in order volume, the measure generated 35 million euros in revenue for Dutch customs in its first month alone.

The surcharge hike is part of a broader European effort to manage the overwhelming flood of cheap e-commerce goods, over 90 percent of which originate in China. In 2025, an estimated 5,9 billion low-value items entered the EU, a fourfold increase compared to 2022.

To better monitor incoming goods and protect European businesses from unfair competition, the EU plans to establish a centralised European Customs Authority in 2027.

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič highlighted that the reform is "a strategic imperative to safeguard our Single Market, strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and economic security, and better protect our citizens".

This article was originally published on IamExpat in the Netherlands.