Shopping on platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress could become more expensive just before the Black Friday sales season and the winter holidays.
The European Union is introducing, from November 1st, a new processing fee of 2 euros for parcels shipped directly from outside the community bloc, in the context of the massive increase in imports of cheap products, especially from China.
Although it is not designed as a fee paid directly by the buyer, the additional cost could be reflected in product prices or delivery conditions, depending on the policy of each platform and each merchant, according to AFP.
Romania already had, since January 1, 2026, its own logistics fee of 25 lei for each non-EU parcel valued under 150 euros, introduced by Law 239/2025. The fee is collected and paid to the budget by postal and courier service providers. It remains to be seen what will change from November 1st.
How the new EU fee is applied
The EU fee is not necessarily applied only once per parcel, regardless of content. The calculation is based on the types of products in the package. For example, a parcel containing ten t-shirts would incur a fee of 2 euros, while a package with hats and t-shirts, classified under different tariff categories, could generate a total fee of 4 euros.
The new fee is added to the temporary customs duty of 3 euros for products in parcels valued up to 150 euros, applied in the EU starting July 1, 2026. The two measures are distinct: the customs duty is calculated based on the tariff categories of the goods, while the processing fee aims to cover the costs associated with managing the large volume of parcels.
The avalanche of parcels from China
The EU decision comes against the backdrop of the accelerated growth of online orders from outside the EU. Almost 6 billion small-sized parcels entered the European Union in 2025, and approximately 93% of these came from China.
European authorities aim to cover the increasing costs of customs inspections and address issues related to non-compliant products reaching the EU market through online trade. The very high volume of low-value shipments puts pressure on customs authorities and complicates the verification of compliance with European regulations.
For buyers, the concrete effect will depend on how platforms and merchants absorb or transfer the additional costs.
The introduction of the fee just before Black Friday could influence the final price of orders from Asian platforms, at a time when many consumers are looking for products at the lowest possible prices.