EU To Remove €150 Tariff Exemption Starting January 1, 2026, With Tariffs As High As 38% On 90% Of Goods

Starting from January 1, 2026, the European Union will abolish the de minimis exemption for parcels valued at less than 150 euros (approximately 1236 RMB).

On November 13, 2025, the finance ministers of EU countries unanimously agreed to abolish this exemption.

European Union Official Website Announcement

At that time, all goods packages, even those worth only a few euros, will be subject to standard customs duties for the first time, with a total duty of up to 38%.

⚠️ Implementation time:Effective from January 1, 2026, but specifically introducing a "simplified temporary customs fee" in the first quarter as a transitional measure. This includes charging a fixed or proportional tariff on low-value parcels, with specific rates yet to be finalized.Possibly a €2 processing fee plus actual customs duties.。

⚠️ Tariff rates:After the exemption is canceled, Chinese exporters will need to pay for each parcel valued below 150 euros.Standard tariff + VAT + possible handling feesStandard tariffs (typically 5-12%, depending on the product, such as clothing at 10%, electronics at 14%); VAT (average of 21%, calculated from 1 euro); handling fee (possibly 2 euros).

⚠️ Permanent reform:By 2028, with the launch of the Centralized EU Customs Data Hub, the €150 threshold will be completely removed from the law, allowing for digital customs processing. This will cover all imports, including higher-value goods.

This policy has the greatest impact on China's e-commerce exports, as China is the largest source of low-value imports for the European Union, accounting for over 90%.

In 2024, approximately 4.6 billion low-value parcels will enter the EU, equivalent to 12 million parcels per day. This figure is double that of 2023 and triple that of 2022. More than 90% of the parcels come from China. The European Commission estimates that up to 65% of low-value imports are undervalued to remain below the €150 threshold. This creates an unfair competitive environment, leading to an estimated annual revenue loss of €1 billion for the EU and causing European retailers to lose competitiveness.

The United States has cancelled the exemption for packages valued below $800 as of August 2025 (earlier in May for China), providing a reference for the European Union. The United Kingdom also plans to introduce related reforms by 2029 and has already initiated a public consultation to expedite the process.