The European Union has agreed to introduce a new handling fee for small parcels from outside the bloc, aimed primarily at curbing the surge in low-cost imports from Chinese webshops such as Temu and Shein.

EU member states and the European parliament reached the agreement on Thursday as part of a wider overhaul of customs rules. The measures are intended to protect European businesses and help customs authorities cope with the sharp rise in small shipments.

The level of the new charge will be set later by the European Commission, but officials expect it to amount to a few euros per parcel. The charge is likely to take effect from November 1 and comes on top of an earlier €3 customs fee per package worth less than €150 which is due to be introduced in July.

In 2025, more than 5.5 billion parcels worth under €150 entered the EU, more than double the number in 2023. Every day, around one million such packages arrive in the Netherlands, of which 80% to 90% come from Chinese mail order firms.

Online retailers will be responsible for paying the levy to customs authorities, and it will be policed by spot checks and fines. Part of the income will go to national governments, with the remainder allocated to the EU budget.

In January the Dutch government said it will not bring in an extra charge on parcels from outside the EU, because Belgium and France had abandoned their plans, and Brussels brought forward its own tariffs.

EU research suggests that up to 65% of small parcels entering the EU are undervalued and avoid duties.