The European Union is preparing to impose a flat €2 fee on billions of small packages entering the bloc—mostly from Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu. The move, which poses a significant challenge to ultra-low-cost online retailers, was announced by Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič during a session at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Šefčovič explained that the proposed “handling fee” would apply to each parcel sold directly to EU consumers and paid by the platform. He noted that in 2023 alone, approximately 4.6 billion parcels entered the EU.

According to the European Commission’s draft proposal the €2 charge will apply to direct-to-consumer sales, while packages sent to warehouses for later distribution would incur a reduced fee of €0.50 per parcel.

Part of the revenue generated from the new scheme will fund enhanced customs inspections, with the remainder going to the EU budget. The goal is to support enforcement mechanisms needed to handle the massive influx of low-value goods from Asia, especially from fast-growing e-commerce platforms.

The proposed measure comes amid concerns in Brussels that Chinese platforms may intensify their presence in Europe, especially as the U.S. prepares to raise tariffs on Chinese goods. France had formally proposed a “management fee” on low-value imports in late April.

Šefčovič emphasized that the explosive growth of small package imports has led to a rise in dangerous and non-compliant products, as well as mounting complaints from EU-based retailers who say they are facing unfair competition due to uneven regulatory enforcement.