In the first seven weeks of its implementation, the new tax on low-value parcels brought the European Union some €224 million, while recording the first signs of a restriction on imports of cheap products from China.
At Liège Airport in Belgium, one of the main European entry hubs for Chinese goods, small parcels arriving in July 2026 were down 53% year-on-year, according to data from Belgian customs authorities cited by Bloomberg.
"The first results show that we are moving in the right direction," said Belgian Finance Minister Jan Jabon, presenting the initial data from the implementation of the measure.
How the Fee Works
The EU introduced a €3 flat fee in July for parcels worth less than €150, seeking to curb the rapid growth of cheap products purchased through online platforms such as Temu and Shein.
These parcels enter the European market without the imposition of customs duties. The fee is a temporary measure and is expected to remain in force until 2028, when a permanent customs surcharge regime is foreseen.
Liège as a gateway to the EU
Liège Airport is one of the most important hubs for the movement of e-commerce parcels to the European Union.
In the first half of 2026, an average of 153 million small parcels passed through the airport per month. The decrease recorded in July is perceived by the Belgian authorities as an indication that the levy is limiting the influx of cheap products.
The competent services point out, however, that before the implementation of the measure, there had been an increase in imports, as businesses and consumers rushed to make shipments before the new charge came into force.
EU-China trade tensions
E-commerce is one of the hotbeds of tension in the European Union's trade relations with China.
The two sides have set October as a deadline to address trade imbalances, which are at historically high levels.
European leaders attribute the situation to, among other things, overcapacity and China's practices that they describe as unfair. Beijing rejects the accusations, leaving trade tensions open.
Capital.gr
