World
The European Union records a sharp drop in low-value shipments after imposing a fixed fee
Data from Belgium and the Netherlands show a decline of nearly half in packages worth less than 150 euros since the 3-euro fee took effect. The measure is part of the customs reform Brussels is promoting to strengthen oversight of e-commerce.
Low-value package entries into the European Union fell by nearly half since July 1, when a fixed fee of 3 euros began to be applied to those shipments, according to Euronews en español based on data from the customs authorities of Belgium and the Netherlands.
According to those figures, in Belgium the year-on-year decline was 53%, while in the Netherlands the reduction reached 46% in packages linked to e-commerce, especially those coming from China. Both countries account for close to 50% of the total of this type of shipment entering from outside the bloc.
The Dutch customs authorities warned, however, that the drop may not be due only to lower activity, but also to changes in companies’ operations. As they noted in a statement cited by Euronews en español, more and more companies would be choosing to import goods in large volumes, store them within the EU and then resell them from there to consumers.
The measure was adopted amid the strong growth of Chinese e-commerce in Europe. According to European Commission data cited by Euronews en español, in 2024 some 4.6 billion items worth less than 150 euros entered the bloc, an average of 12 million packages per day. In 2023 there had been 2.3 billion, and in 2022, 1.4 billion.
That volume, combined with the fragmentation of the European customs system, complicates controls over products entering the single market. Euronews en español added that those controls also seek to curb the entry of illegal goods. In that context, it mentioned a peer-reviewed study published in 2025 in the journal Contact Dermatitis, which analyzed 111 garments in Italy and other EU countries and concluded that 63% contained carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting or sensitizing chemical substances.
Dutch MEP Dirk Gotink, cited by Euronews en español, said the temporary tariff has already significantly reduced the flow of packages, although he considered it still insufficient. He also said the customs reform under preparation will include a central data platform, more risk-based checks and closer cooperation among national authorities.
As part of that plan, the EU plans to create a data center in Lille to gather and analyze customs information. According to Euronews en español, the new European customs authority should be operational in 2028.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this fact.
