Why your parcels may soon become more expensive in France

Small-value parcels sent to the EU will no longer be exempt from customs duties, after the EU backed French plans to penalise overseas e-commerce brands including controversial Chinese site Shein. 

While the measures target Asian e-commerce websites, all non-EU parcels including those from the UK, US, and Australia among others are likely to be impacted in a knock-on effect, unless specific exemptions are included in the plans.

Finance Ministers of the 27 EU member states backed the introduction of charges for small value parcels – those of a value of less than €150 – in a meeting on Thursday (November 13). 

Introduction and implementation of the changes remain to be finalised. However, it is thought that charges will likely come into force at the start of 2026.

Timeline brought forward

The measures were previously set to be introduced around 2028. However, a recent influx of parcels and controversy has expedited proposals, with some Ministers including EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic arguing the current timeline was ‘incompatible’ with the situation.

A planned handling fee for small parcels set at €2 is scheduled to come into force in November 2026, with each member state able to decide if they want to levy the fee. Brussels is reportedly reluctant to allow different internal regulations as these could impede the movement of goods within the customs union, preferring instead application of uniform rules across all countries.

Currently, Romania has a €5 flat fee for all incoming parcels from outside the EU.

EU authorities want to introduce a yet-to-be-determined flat rate charge, whereas France wants a fixed-fee of around €5, similar to in Romania.

French authorities argue that Chinese e-commerce sites often undervalue the cost of parcels sent to the bloc, and that a flat-rate would therefore be more effective. 

Ministers will meet in December to finalise rules.

Chinese commerce controversy

The number of small parcels entering the EU from outside of the bloc has increased sharply in recent years. In 2024, 12 million such parcels entered the bloc each day, three times the amount in 2022. 

Around 90% of these small parcels originate from China and Chinese e-commerce sites, driven by European consumer habits and demand for cheap goods or ‘fast-fashion’.

Close to three-quarters of counterfeit goods confiscated across the EU in 2022 originated from China, as did roughly half of all ‘dangerous’ non-food items.

Reports suggest that around 96% of small parcels from China fail to fully comply with EU regulations on product materials, labour laws, or safety standards.

November saw plans by France dropped to initiate proceedings against Shein over the sale of ‘child sex dolls’ on its website. The controversy was one of several raised when the site opened its flagship physical store in Paris last week.