European finance ministers reached a consensus on the 13th, deciding to impose tariffs on small parcels entering the EU starting next year in order to curb the influx of cheap Chinese e-commerce goods. This move is expected to affect Chinese online retailers SHEIN and Tmall.
The agreement, made by finance ministers meeting in Brussels, will be implemented as soon as 2026, after which negotiations will begin with the European Parliament since the final方案 still requires parliamentary approval. EU trade commissioner Šefčovič proposed to the finance ministers to remove the special exemption on duty-free online purchases below 150 euros (719 ringgit) in the first quarter of 2026, two years earlier than originally planned. He suggested replacing it with a simplified provisional tariff.
The European Commission had previously suggested removing this tax exemption as of 2028 during a broader customs reform, at which point the small parcel exemption would be officially abolished.