EU plans parcel fee: Is the big price shock for online shopping coming now?

EU plans parcel fee: Is the big price shock for online shopping coming now?

The European Union is planning a new levy on packages sent by Chinese retailers. This measure is a response to the increasing volume of small shipments reaching the EU every day. Currently, over twelve million parcels are sent to the EU from outside, especially from China, every day. This number has doubled within a year, putting a great strain on the European customs system. Loud Ruhr24 In the future, private households will be asked to pay two euros per package, while large department stores will have to pay less, namely just 50 cents.

In 2022, the EU imported 4.6 billion parcels below the 150 euro customs limit, with 91 percent of these shipments coming from China. The EU Commission states that the high monitoring and customs costs are intended to be partially covered by this measure. Experts fear that these fees will ultimately be passed on to consumers, which could put further pressure on the already low prices of popular platforms such as Shein and Temu.

Dangers and standards

However, the high demand for products offered through low-cost portals such as Shein and Temu poses risks. Many of these products do not comply with European safety and environmental standards. Loud daily news Numerous dangerous items have been identified in the past, including defective smoke detectors and unsafe motorcycle helmets. The list of questionable chemicals and products that fall under EU directives is constantly growing. Around three out of four of the goods complained about come from Chinese traders, supporting the claim that online trading from these countries needs to be monitored.

In addition, the EU has opened investigations against Shein and Temu. Shein faces allegations of unfair business practices, such as fake discounts and aggressive sales strategies. Temu is currently investigating a case regarding the sale of illegal products. Despite these developments, online commerce in the EU remains strong, with over 70 percent of EU citizens regularly placing orders online.

Impact and future

The introduction of a parcel fee could be seen as a possible solution to regulate rampant online trading. The planned fee could theoretically generate up to 9.2 billion euros in additional revenue for the EU. However, a specific timetable for the implementation of the fee is not yet known. Bernd Lange, the chairman of the Trade Committee in the EU Parliament, is calling for quick action, especially since low-cost providers have significantly increased their advertising spending in recent months.

The decision to implement the fee now rests with the Council of 27 member states and the European Parliament. It remains to be seen whether these new costs will ultimately be passed on to online shoppers and how these measures will impact an already volatile market.