EU imposes €3 duty on Chinese parcels; China drafts countermeasure law

The European Union has introduced a €3 customs duty on low-value e-commerce parcels, ending a longstanding “de minimis” exemption for imports under €150, while China has unveiled draft amendments to its e-commerce law that include legal “countermeasures” to protect its platforms abroad. The moves come amid a widening EU-China trade deficit and growing safety and environmental concerns over cheap imports.

Key measures

• EU customs duty: From July 1, 2026, a flat €3 levy applies to each category of goods in a parcel, with a handling fee planned from 2026. The exemption ended after parcel volumes surged from 1.4 billion in 2022 to 5.9 billion in 2025, with 91% originating from China Source: DW News; AP News.
• China’s e-commerce law draft: Released for public consultation until August 4, 2026, the 20-provision amendment extends regulatory oversight to all “platform economy” participants and introduces “countermeasures” to safeguard Chinese firms like Temu and Shein facing tariffs and fines abroad Source: The Next Web.
• French anti-fast-fashion law: On June 29, 2026, the French parliament passed a bill imposing fines of up to €10 per product by 2030 on ultra-fast-fashion retailers, banning advertising for such products Source: Channel News Asia.

Reactions and concerns

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič stated, “The status quo is not an option” as the trade deficit reached €360 billion in 2025 Source: DW News. European consumer groups report that over 60% of imported toys, cosmetics, and electronics fail safety checks, with Greenpeace finding phthalates up to 200 times the EU limit in garments .