A new European Union customs-handling fee is adding further pressure to the business model of platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress. Since November 1, shipments are subject to a €2 charge for each product category processed by EU customs.

The fee applies to goods sharing the same tariff classification, description and, where relevant, origin. As a result, five identical T-shirts in one shipment would incur the charge once, while an order containing a T-shirt and a watch would be charged twice because the products belong to different categories.

This new cost is added to the €3 transitional tariff introduced in July for imports valued below €150. That measure is scheduled to remain in force until July 2028. Unlike the July tariff, the new €2 fee does not depend on the value of the package.

Using the example of a USB cable that costs €0.50, the two charges would bring the total to €5.50. The measure is therefore expected to affect low-value purchases, an important segment for cross-border e-commerce platforms.

Formally, the buyer is not directly responsible for the new fee. Under the EU system, online platforms and sellers are treated as importers and must handle customs procedures. However, they may absorb the cost through promotions or pass part of it on through higher product or delivery prices.

The July tariff had already produced changes in shipping and sales figures. According to European Commission sources cited in the original report, shipments of these small packages fell by 60%, although around five million still reach EU borders each day. In France, Temu’s sales volume dropped by 50% between June and July, while AliExpress recorded a 37% decline. Dutch customs also reported a 46% reduction in incoming parcels.

Part of that fall may reflect a change in logistics rather than a complete decline in consumer demand. The platforms are reportedly importing larger volumes and storing products within the EU before reselling them, which allows the purchasing experience to remain similar while changing the route taken by the goods.

The new fee is intended to help cover the resources required to process and inspect the large number of shipments. Its amount is not necessarily permanent: the regulation provides for a review every two years based on the actual cost of customs controls.

Sources: Xataka.