EU proposes new custom duties to curb Chinese imports
The European Commission has expressed concern over the number of dangerous products reported by EU countries rising by more than 50% from 2022 to 2023
The EU has reportedly drawn up plans to impose custom duties on cheap products from Chinese online retailers such as Temu and Shein in a bid to dampen a rise in what it has called “substandard items”, the Financial Times has reported.
The FT reported that The European Commission plans to remove the current €150 (£127) threshold later this month, under which items can be bought duty free.
According to EU officials, this move would primarily affect online marketplaces such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress, which began in China.
It comes as last year the EU saw 2.3 billion items below the duty-free threshold get imported, as ecommerce imports have more than doubled year-on-year. This means almost two deliveries per household, according to the commission’s data.
The proposed changes would apply to any online retailers shipping to EU customers directly from outside the vicinity. While Amazon is US-based, it typically uses sellers based in Europe, and would not be affected.
However, the outlet cited that another official cautioned that getting EU countries to agree could be difficult, as it would mean more work on already overstretched customs officials.
The European Commission has expressed concern over the number of dangerous products reported by EU countries rising by more than 50% from 2022 to 2023 to more than 3,400. Cosmetics, toys, electrical appliances and clothes were among the products with the most safety issues.
Christel Delberghe, director-general of retail lobby group EuroCommerce, said: “We want an EU-level playing field in online retail for all players targeting EU-based consumers, no matter where they are established.”
Retail Sector has approached Temu and Shein for comment.
