EU Officially Cancels Tax Exemption for Small Packages, Imposes €3 Tariff
Starting July 1, 2026, the EU will cancel the tax exemption for low-value packages valued under €150, instead imposing a fixed tariff of €3 per package. This move aims to balance the competitive environment between domestic and cross-border sellers, affecting nearly all cross-border e-commerce small package businesses, requiring sellers to recalculate costs and adjust pricing strategies.
What are the key facts?
- 1Effective Date: July 1, 2026
- 2Tariff Standard: €3 per package
- 3Coverage: Low-value imports under €150
- 4Impact Ratio: Approximately 93% of e-commerce import flows
What happened?
The EU will officially implement new regulations on July 1, 2026, abolishing long-standing tax exemption privileges for low-value packages. A tariff of €3 per package will now be imposed on import goods valued under €150. The policy aims to respond to the increasing cross-border small package trade and is projected to impact approximately 93% of e-commerce import flows, continuing until the full activation of the EU Customs Data Center in 2028.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Sellers should immediately update their product pricing models to incorporate the new €3 tariff cost, preventing profit erosion. It is recommended to optimize logistics strategies, considering bulk shipments to EU warehouses to distribute the clearance costs per item effectively.