Brussels has called for an EU-wide handling fee on small packages ordered online from platforms such as Shein, Temu and Alibaba to be imposed in early 2026, more than two years earlier than scheduled, in a bid to crack down on billions of cheap Chinese imports each year, reports the Financial Times. The European Commission urged EU finance ministers meeting on Thursday to agree the faster implementation to protect domestic retailers from unfair competition.
“It is a crucial step in ensuring the European Union bolsters its position in the face of rapidly changing trade realities,” trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič wrote in a letter to the ministers and seen by the Financial Times.
The move “would send a strong signal that Europe is serious about increasing its competitiveness and ensuring fair conditions for its businesses,” he added.