EU officials said the measure aims to address unfair competition faced by EU sellers, alongside concerns over consumer health and safety, widespread fraud, and environmental impact linked to high volumes of low-value imports. Around 93 per cent of e-commerce flows into the EU are expected to fall under the scope of the new duty, the Council said in a press release.
The €3 rate will apply to goods sold by non-EU traders registered under the EU’s Import One-Stop Shop for VAT purposes. The Council clarified that this customs duty is separate from a proposed handling fee being discussed under the broader customs reform and the EU’s multiannual financial framework.
The temporary duty will remain in force until a permanent system agreed in November 2025 comes into application, which would remove the €150 duty-free threshold altogether and subject all such goods to standard EU tariffs. The European Commission will periodically review whether the duty should also extend to goods sold by traders not registered under the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS).
ALCHEMPro News Desk (KD)
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