New EU Tax on Non-EU Packages: What It Means for Your Orders

Belgium is rolling out a new European Union levy on small packages arriving from outside the bloc, making orders from popular online retailers like Temu, Shein, AliExpress, and non-EU Amazon significantly more expensive. Starting July 1, 2026, a €3 charge per item will apply to all non-EU shipments valued under €150, with an additional €2 handling fee set to follow in November 2026 — bringing the total extra cost to €5 per item, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

Why This Tax?

The measure is designed to level the playing field for European businesses and address the overwhelming volume of small parcels entering the EU. In 2024, some 4.6 billion small packages entered the European Union, with 91% originating from China. That figure rose to 5.8 billion in 2025 — more than 145 parcels per second, as VRT NWS reported.

Currently, shipments valued under €150 are exempt from import duties under the “de minimis” rule, though consumers already pay 21% VAT on non-EU goods from the first euro. Customs experts say this exemption has led to systematic undervaluation of e-commerce deliveries and overwhelmed national customs authorities.

“The exemption causes numerous problems that the EU now wants to address,” said Stijn Vastmans, a customs expert at Tiberghien law firm. “E-commerce revolves mainly around millions of small packages of €10, €20 or €30. Moreover, e-commerce deliveries from outside the EU are often systematically undervalued.”

How the Levy Works

The €3 levy applies per item, not per package. A single box containing a bike helmet, cycling shorts, and a drink bottle would be taxed at €9 (€3 × 3). For multiple units of the same product, the duty applies only once. The charge covers shipments from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and all other non-EU countries.

From November 2026, a €2 handling fee per item will be added to cover customs clearance costs, as part of a broader EU customs reform agreement reached in March 2026. The Brussels Times reported that the European Parliament and Member States described the agreement as “historic,” establishing a new EU customs authority (EUCA) based in Lille, France, and a new data hub to replace 111 different software systems currently used across the bloc.

Who Pays?

The levy will typically not be paid directly by consumers but by platforms, sellers, or intermediaries, who are expected to pass the cost on through higher prices. For a €10 item, an additional €3–5 levy plus VAT could significantly increase the final price.

“For an item of €10, an additional levy of €3 to €5, plus VAT on top, can of course weigh heavily,” Vastmans told HLN. “The reality is that products ordered online from outside the EU will become more expensive.”

Retail expert Pierre-Alexandre Billiet, CEO of the Gondola knowledge platform, said the tax primarily targets ultra-cheap packages from China. “For consumers, the additional cost will mainly have an impact on their attitude and perception. Although it remains affordable, a product of a few euros suddenly becomes less attractive.”

Impact on Consumers and Platforms

Professor Els Breugelmans of KU Leuven told VRT that she expects the effect on consumer behavior to be limited, as Chinese platforms will remain unbeatable on price. However, she noted a potential psychological threshold: “If a price of €9.99 becomes €11, that could become a psychological threshold. From research we know that customers are sensitive to something that costs less than €10.”

Vastmans warned of possible delivery disruptions during the transition period. “Packages may be temporarily blocked in the coming period because platforms, transporters and intermediaries need to adapt their systems and cannot agree on who should pay what.” He also cautioned that orders placed just before July 1 may still be subject to the new fees if they arrive later.

Broader EU Customs Reform

The new levy is part of a sweeping overhaul of EU customs rules. Non-EU e-commerce platforms will now be legally regarded as importers, required to provide customs information, pay fees, and ensure goods comply with EU legislation. Companies that ignore the rules could face fines of up to 6% of their turnover.

The reform also encourages bulk shipments by incentivizing sellers to open warehouses in the EU, making customs inspections easier. “Europe actually wants to get rid of all those individual shipments,” Vastmans explained. “The goal is for goods to come more often in bulk to European warehouses, so that controls can be more efficient.”

What’s Next

With the July 1 deadline just two weeks away, consumers should be aware that prices displayed on non-EU websites today may not reflect the final cost. The November handling fee will add another layer, and the full EU customs data hub is not expected to be operational for all goods until March 2034.

Belgian business organization UNIZO welcomed the move, though representative Chiel Sterckx noted it “could have come earlier.” For now, shoppers looking for bargains from Temu, Shein, and other non-EU platforms should prepare for higher prices — and possibly some delivery headaches along the way.