EU officially cancels duty-free policy for low-value imports
Starting July 1, 2026, the EU abolishes the tax exemption for imports below 150 euros, imposing a fixed tariff of 3 euros per item. This aims to combat undervaluation and protect local EU businesses, expected to significantly increase fulfillment costs for cross-border sellers.
What are the key facts?
- 1Effective date: July 1, 2026
- 2Tariff standard: 3 euros per item
- 3Applicable to: Low-value parcels under 150 euros
What happened?
The EU has officially terminated the duty-free treatment for low-value parcels as of July 1. All goods imported from outside the EU valued below 150 euros will now incur a fixed tariff of 3 euros per item. This policy affects approximately 93% of cross-border e-commerce traffic, aiming to reduce fraudulent declarations and balance market competition through standardized tariff measures.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Sellers need to recalculate the landed costs for the European market immediately and ensure accurate HS code classification to address the profit compression due to tariffs.