EU Targets China's Temu and Shein with New Import Duty
The European Union is preparing to impose customs duties on inexpensive goods purchased from Chinese online retailers such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. The European Commission is expected to propose eliminating the current 150 euros ($161) threshold that allows items to be bought duty-free. This move aims to counter a surge in substandard products entering the EU from these platforms.
The proposal is part of a broader effort to reform customs regulations and will be made public by the European Commission later this month. Currently, packages from non-EU countries valued under 150 euros are exempt from customs duties, a loophole critics argue allows companies like Shein and Temu to undercut rivals and evade customs inspections. The reform, which has been under discussion since May 2023, may now be expedited to address the increasing volume of cheap imports.
