EU to Impose a Temporary €3 Duty on Low-Value Imports
From July 1, 2026, the EU will impose a temporary €3 duty per item on low-value imports from outside the EU valued at no more than €150, with phased declaration requirements for PIDs.
What are the key facts?
- 1EU to impose a temporary €3 duty on low-value imports
- 2Policy starts July 1, 2026, and is expected to continue until July 1, 2028
- 3PIDs become mandatory to declare from November 1, 2026
- 4Policy applies to distance sales, including online shopping
What happened?
According to official EU guidance, from July 1, 2026, low-value imports from outside the EU valued at no more than €150 will lose their existing duty-free treatment and instead be subject to a temporary €3 duty per item. The measure is expected to remain in place until July 1, 2028, after which the goods will move to the normal tariff schedule. It applies to distance sales, including online shopping, without distinguishing between sellers or logistics providers based on nationality. Product Identifiers (PIDs) may be declared voluntarily from July 1, 2026, and will become mandatory from November 1, 2026, to improve product traceability and support quality and safety checks. For small-parcel sellers shipping directly to Europe from non-EU regions such as China, Southeast Asia, and the United Kingdom, the fixed duty may compress margins on low-priced goods, requiring corresponding adjustments to pricing and returns-cost models.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
From July 1, 2026, goods from outside the EU valued at no more than €150 will incur a temporary €3 duty per item, putting pressure on margins for low-priced apparel accessories, jewelry, and other lightweight goods shipped directly to Europe. Sellers must also organize product identifier information for mandatory PID declarations from November 1, 2026, and include return-related duties in their cost models.
What should sellers do now?
- 1Use a profit calculator to review prices and margins for items shipped directly to Europe and priced below €10. Enter the €3 duty and return costs separately, then produce an affected-listing inventory and flag items requiring price adjustments.Profit calculator
- 2Use HS-code duty estimates to check the classification and duty impact for each item valued at no more than €150 on European stores, covering apparel accessories, jewelry, and phone accessories. Create a code-and-cost verification sheet for every listing.HS duty estimate
- 3Compile the PIDs, categories, and product information for all affected listings on European stores. Prepare for voluntary declarations first, then produce a missing-fields list and review log before November 1, 2026.Listing Optimizer