The European Union is preparing to launch one of its most significant customs reforms in recent years—one that will directly affect the global flow of low-value parcels, particularly those originating from China’s major e-commerce platforms.

On November 19, the European Commission and EU finance ministers reached a consensus to accelerate regulatory measures targeting the surge of low-value e-commerce shipments entering Europe. These parcels—often sent in massive daily volumes through platforms like SHEIN, Temu, and AliExpress—have long benefited from simplified customs procedures and favorable tax treatment. But that era is approaching a decisive turning point.

Under the new framework, the EU aims to introduce tariffs on low-value parcels as early as November 2026, followed by a full phase-in of tighter customs controls once the EU Customs Data Hub becomes operational in 2028. This marks a sharp shift away from the long-standing €150 duty-free threshold—a system that critics say has distorted competition, strained customs capacity, and opened loopholes around undervaluation and false declarations.

European policymakers describe the move as both urgent and necessary. The unprecedented volume of small parcels has overwhelmed customs systems, while local manufacturers and retailers argue they face structural disadvantages, given that EU businesses must comply with stricter tax, reporting, safety, and production standards. The upcoming reforms aim to restore what the EU calls “fair competition” by requiring every parcel—regardless of value—to undergo proper customs declaration and real-time data validation.

The reform will unfold in two major phases.
The 2026 phase introduces transitional controls, potentially including partial tariff collection, enhanced data checks, and stepped-up enforcement against misdeclared shipments.
The 2028 phase, powered by the new Data Hub, will centralize customs information across all EU member states, enabling automated cross-checking, risk scoring, and a unified database capable of tracking each parcel from origin to destination. This digital foundation is expected to eliminate widespread low-value declaration abuse and increase compliance transparency across the supply chain.

For cross-border e-commerce sellers, logistics providers, and freight forwarders, the implications are far-reaching. Business models built around ultra-low-cost, high-volume parcel delivery will face rising compliance and customs costs. Shipping routes, inventory strategies, and pricing models may need to be recalibrated.

At this stage, cross-border e-commerce is clearly entering an era of transparent, compliant, and fully digitalized customs oversight. The EU’s tariff reform is now inevitable, and the traditional low-value direct-shipping model will face significant disruption. Compliance is becoming the defining trend for the future of cross-border commerce—only businesses that operate in full compliance will be able to achieve sustainable, long-term growth.

HANYUE International will continue to monitor the EU’s tariff reform in real time and provide up-to-date policy analysis and customs-clearance solutions to help sellers remain competitive in this new tariff landscape. For the latest updates or tailored response strategies, please feel free to contact our customer service team.