The turn of the year after 2026 is approaching and will bring some changes for Berliners. While we can look forward to an increase in our wallets –due to the rising minimum wage, for example –new construction sites on the rail network will once again demand our patience. But online shopping is also about to change: a new EU tax is targeting cheap imports from overseas. What exactly is in store for us?
The end of cheap bargains: parcels from China will become significantly more expensive
The EU member states have agreed on a drastic measure: From summer 2026, a flat-rate tax of 3 euros will be payable on every small parcel imported into the European Union from outside the EU. The calculation is based on the product groups in the parcel. For example, if two T-shirts are sent together, there will be a one-off additional charge of 3 euros. However, if an item of clothing and a kitchen appliance are sent in the same parcel, the surcharge doubles to 6 euros, as two different categories are affected.
But that’s not all: additional national administrative fees may be added to this EU-wide charge. Another important key date is July 2028, when the previous duty-free limit of 150 euros will be completely abolished, meaning that the regular customs duties will apply to all goods. For the operators of low-cost platforms such as Shein or Temu, this means the end of their previous pricing policy.
Focus on fairness and environmental protection
There is a strategic goal behind the EU’s decision. It is about creating fair competitive conditions for European trade and guaranteeing compliance with quality standards. At the same time, the enormous ecological burden is to be stopped. The cheap goods cause gigantic amounts of CO₂ due to the mass individual shipment by air. Added to this are mountains of packaging waste and low-quality textile scrap, which cause massive damage to the environment.
What does this mean for us in concrete terms?
Germany is one of the largest markets for Chinese discounters. So from next year, anyone who has ordered there regularly up to now will have to dig deeper into their pockets. As a typical package often contains items from many different categories, the total price could increase by up to 50% due to the new tax and additional handling fees.
The previous business model of flying the smallest goods directly from China for just a few euros will simply become uneconomical due to the flat fees of 3 to 7 euros. It can be assumed that the platforms will pass on these additional costs directly to consumers. Experts are already predicting a drop in orders from Germany of around 20%. The EU’s new tax is an opportunity for local retailers to become competitive again – and a reason for us all to buy less clothing that has been transported halfway around the world under questionable conditions.