AB removes tax exemption for online shopping from China.

EU Launches New Tax Regime for Online Shopping with China

The European Union (EU) Council announced an important decision at the meeting of finance ministers from member states in Brussels, taking steps to eliminate the tax exemption on online purchases from China.

Small Parcel Flow and Competition Issues

The statement emphasized that the flow of small parcels, which are exempt from customs duties, creates unfair competition for European sellers and raises environmental concerns. In this context, it was stated that the 150 euro customs duty threshold will be abolished.

Long-Term Solution

The finance ministers of EU countries reached an agreement to abolish the current rule that allows products under 150 euros to enter the EU. It was noted that, with this change, customs duties will now apply to all goods.

Implementation Date and Statistics

The introduction of customs duties is planned to be implemented as soon as possible in 2026. Currently, orders of products valued under 150 euros sent to the EU from abroad are exempt from customs duties. By 2024, it has been observed that 91% of all e-commerce shipments under 150 euros to EU countries are made from China.

New Tax Regulations Coming

Additionally, the EU Commission is working on new tax regulations for purchases from e-commerce platforms such as Temu, AliExpress, and Shein. Last year, it was recorded that approximately 2 billion packages were sent to EU countries outside the scope of customs duties.