New Customs Fees Starting July 2026 for Online Orders

Starting July 1, 2026, the new regulation particularly affects platforms like Temu, Wish, and Shein, known for their low prices. From tomorrow, buyers will have to pay this fee for every package shipped from a non-EU country, regardless of the actual value of the goods. This could significantly reduce the attractiveness of these platforms for consumers. The customs fee is charged not per shipment, but per category of goods.

This means that fees could double if a package contains products from multiple categories. For example, a package containing a phone case and another item from a different category would incur a total customs fee of 6 euros. The consumer advice center has already pointed out that the actual costs for consumers could rise significantly due to the new regulation. For a purchase price of 7 euros for a phone case, the total costs could increase to as much as 18.83 euros when considering the customs fee, import VAT, and the service charge from the shipping service. The European Commission had announced the introduction of the new customs fees back in December 2025.

This measure aims to strengthen the competitiveness of European companies by creating equal competitive conditions for online trade and brick-and-mortar retail. The Commission considers the regulation necessary to balance competition between local and international providers. The temporary customs fee of 3 euros applies to all packages shipped directly to consumers in the EU. This regulation will be implemented regardless of ongoing negotiations regarding an EU processing fee for packages in e-commerce. The European Commission plans to introduce the final customs regulation in 2028, once the EU customs data platform is established.

The new platform is intended to enable comprehensive integration of customs data and provide customs authorities with a complete picture of the flow of goods in and out of the EU. This measure is deemed necessary to cover the rising costs of monitoring package flows and to improve the efficiency of customs processing. Whether and to what extent sellers will pass on the new customs fees to buyers remains to be seen. However, consumers should prepare for potential price increases for products on platforms like Temu, Wish, and Shein starting tomorrow.

The European Commission has emphasized that the regulation aims to improve competitive conditions in online trade. The new customs regulation will take effect on July 1, 2026, and could have far-reaching effects on consumer purchasing behavior in the EU. The European Commission has already announced that the final customs regulation will be further developed in the coming years.