The European Commission will recommend removing the current €150 threshold later this month, according to people familiar with the matter. The main target platforms are Temu, AliExpress and clothing retailer Shein, an official said.
According to the European Commission, the EU imported 2.3 billion items below the €150 duty-free threshold last year. E-commerce imports more than doubled year-on-year, exceeding 350,000 in April, the data showed.
Under the existing rules, there is no need to pay customs duties on purchases of goods with a value of less than 150 euros on e-commerce platforms in non-EU countries. In the UK, imports worth £39 or less are also exempt from import duties.
Another possible measure would be to make it mandatory for large platforms to register for VAT payments online, regardless of their value.
Since 2021, packages sent to consumers in the EU have been subject to VAT regardless of their value, but they are duty-free.
Click here, get more!