Temu – Shein: How they get around the new European tariff of 3 euros

WITH July 1, 2026 in the European Union a temporary customs duty of 3 euros for inexpensive goods that come to EU small parcels from third countries. The measure directly affects the model on which platforms like Temu, Shein and AliExpress: Millions of cheap goods were shipped directly from China to customers.

However, to say that Chinese platforms have “learned to circumvent the tariff” would not be entirely accurate. They do not cancel customs clearance and do not receive special exemption. Instead, companies are increasingly moving to a different model: deliver goods in large quantities to warehouses within the European Unionand then send them to customers as intra-European orders.

What exactly has changed since July 1

Until June 30, 2026, parcels worth up to 150 eurossent from countries outside the EU directly to the buyer, enjoyed an exemption from customs duty. It is this mechanism, known as de minimisallowed ultra-cheap goods to enter the European market en masse.

Now for small items worth up to 150 euros there is a temporary flat duty of 3 euros per product category. This is an important detail: the fee is not necessarily charged for the entire parcel, but for each individual category of goods according to customs classification.

For example, if one parcel contains several identical T-shirts, duty may be charged for one product category. But if the shipment contains a T-shirt, a charger and a toy, then formally they can be applied three separate fees of 3 euros. That is why mixed cheap orders can become noticeably more expensive.

The decision was approved by the EU Council as a temporary measure for the period from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028. The flat rate should then be replaced by regular customs tariffs depending on the type of product. EU Council clarifies that the rule applies to small items worth less than 150 euros entering the Union from third countries.

How the EU warehouse scheme works

If a product is sent directly from China to Greece, it crosses the external EU border as a separate small parcel. In this case, the new fee will apply.

But if Temu, Shein or another seller delivers a large consignment of goods to a warehouse in advance, for example in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands or the Czech Republic, customs clearance occurs when the entire consignment is imported. After this, the goods are already in free circulation within the EU.

Next, the buyer in Greece receives the order not from China, but, conditionally, from a Polish or German warehouse. At such a moment, the parcel no longer crosses the external border of the European Union, but moves within the single market.

That is, a separate fee of 3 euros does not arise for the buyer, not because he was “bypassed,” but because the goods were already imported into the EU and went through the customs procedure earlier.

Customs is still here

The warehouse scheme does not mean that the goods enter Europe without taxes and duties. The importer is still required to register the goods when importing them into the EU, pay the required fees and comply with safety, labeling, certification and VAT requirements.

It’s just that the costs are distributed differently: not for one cheap parcel per specific buyer, but for a large shipment. This can be more profitable for platforms because wholesale logistics are cheaper, delivery across Europe is faster, and the number of small customs declarations is sharply reduced.

That is why the goods from the warehouse EU warehouse often arrives in Greece in a few days, whereas direct shipping from China can take weeks.

Why are goods from a European warehouse often more expensive?

Buyers are already noticing that the same product in the section EU warehouse sometimes it costs more than when sent directly from China. This is not necessarily an attempt by the platform to make more money on the air, although businesses rarely turn down such an opportunity.

The price of goods located within the EU includes:

• customs clearance of large consignments;
• VAT and import payments;
• warehouse rental and maintenance;
• packaging and sorting;
• delivery within the EU;
• processing returns;
• costs of complying with European requirements for goods.

As a result, the buyer can choose between a cheaper product with direct delivery from China, to which a new customs fee will be added, and a more expensive, but faster option from an EU warehouse.

Why is the EU introducing this duty?

The official goal of the European Union is to reduce the price advantage of ultra-cheap imports, increase control over the safety of goods and level the playing field for European stores.

The flow of cheap parcels has grown to enormous proportions. According to Reuters, the number of small items worth up to 150 euros arriving in the EU increased from 1.4 billion in 2022 up to approximately 5.8 billion in 2025. A significant part of these goods came from China through Temu, Shein, AliExpress and other marketplaces. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The European Commission emphasizes that the abolition of the previous exemption should not only increase revenue from tariffs, but also reduce the flow of goods with low prices, insufficient labeling or questionable compliance with European standards. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

What will happen after 2028

The fee of 3 euros is not considered permanent. This is a transitional regime until the launch of the new European customs system and a single data processing center.

After July 1, 2028 the flat rate should be replaced by standard customs tariffs depending on the specific product category. That is, cheap jewelry, clothing, electronics, toys or cosmetics may be taxed according to different rules.

For Temu, Shein and similar platforms, this means that the reliance on European warehouses will likely continue beyond 2028. This approach allows for faster delivery of goods and reduces dependence on millions of individual small shipments.

What about returns?

Another unpleasant detail for buyers: a fixed duty of 3 euros paid when importing a small parcel, as a rule, not automatically refunded in case of normal purchase cancellation.

If the product is returned because the buyer changed his mind, the size did not fit, or the item simply turned out to be worse than in the photo, the issue of returning the customs payment may be more complicated than returning the cost of the order itself. Logistics companies are already warning that such costs could make cheap returns economically pointless. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Another situation is if the product turns out to be defective, does not correspond to the description or violates the terms of sale. Then the buyer has consumer rights against the seller, but the procedure for compensation of customs costs may depend on the specific sales scheme and the conditions of the platform.

Main

Temu and Shein did not cancel the European tariff and did not find an illegal loophole. They use a scheme that is normal for large-scale trade: first they bring the goods to a warehouse in the EU, register it as a mass import, and then sell it within the single market.

For the buyer, this means faster delivery and no separate €3 fee when receiving an order from an EU warehouse. But the price of the product itself may be higher, because customs, VAT, warehouse and delivery are already included in the price. European bureaucracy does not disappear, it simply moves into the price on the “buy” button.

Source link