The French government plans to impose an additional handling fee on small packages from China starting next year, hoping to prevent a flood of duty-free goods into the EU market, thereby protecting local businesses, consumer safety, and public finances. This measure will primarily target Chinese fast fashion brands and cross-border e-commerce platforms, and the government hopes to coordinate with other EU countries to implement a unified fee mechanism.
New measures target Chinese e-commerce platforms, with processing fees paid by the platforms
French Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin and Finance Minister Éric Lombard jointly announced on Tuesday (29th) that France will propose to the European Union a processing fee of several euros on all small parcels sent from Chinese e-commerce platforms to France with a value of less than €150 (approximately HK$1,260). This move primarily targets Chinese fast fashion brand Shein, cross-border shopping platform Temu, and Alibaba-affiliated platforms.
Monsalan emphasized that the fees should be borne by importers or platforms and will not be passed directly on to consumers. The proceeds from the levy will be used to strengthen customs supervision and product safety testing, and enhance the ability to control imported goods.
Pressure on French market intensifies as Chinese goods turn to Europe
Since early April, the United States has eliminated its duty-free policy for online packages valued at less than $800 and imposed punitive tariffs of up to 145% on some Chinese goods. This has sparked concerns that a large amount of cheap Chinese goods originally destined for the United States will be diverted to the European market, placing greater competitive pressure on local companies.
According to official data, France receives approximately 1.5 billion e-commerce parcels annually, of which over 800 million are small parcels valued at less than €150, with over 90% originating from China. Monsarlan noted that these parcels pose not only product safety risks but also counterfeit and tax evasion issues, posing multiple threats to local consumers, brands, and public finances.
The EU will completely abolish tax exemptions; France strives for early implementation
The European Union has planned to completely eliminate tax exemptions for parcels under €150 by 2028. France hopes to implement this earlier, introducing a processing fee as a transitional measure. It is currently in consultation with European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, hoping to achieve a unified EU-wide implementation by 2026.
European retailers and local merchants have long criticized current policies for giving Chinese e-commerce platforms an unfair competitive advantage. Duty-free packages generally undergo less inspection, leading to inconsistent safety and compliance standards and creating an imbalance in the market.
The French government said it will continue to promote cooperation with EU member states and strive to establish a unified fee collection and supervision mechanism at the EU level to plug tax loopholes, ensure fair competition, enhance the ability to monitor foreign goods, and protect the rights and interests of consumers.
