The move, set to kick in next July, marks a milestone in Europe’s fight, led by France, against the influx of small parcels, mostly from Chinese platforms such as Temu and Shein, entering the union tax free. But how effective these tariffs will be remains to be seen given both platforms’ extensive warehouse and logistic networks in Europe.
“Today is a big day for Europe, a big day for France, but above all a big day for our citizens, producers and retailers,” French finance minister Roland Lescure told journalists with a smile.
Paris has repeatedly warned that these small parcels pose a threat to European businesses and consumers.
Three euros will be a “relatively significant fee” for these small parcels given their values, according to Lescure, which stressed that France spent the past day convincing a lot of its European peers to sign on to the measure which Paris sees as the right way forward.
The fee will apply to all small parcels directly sent from non-EU countries to European customers, according to a statement from the European Commission published on Friday.
