Chinese e-commerce seeks warehouse space in CEE
From 1 July 2026, e-commerce shipments valued at up to EUR 150 imported from outside the European Union will no longer be exempt from customs duties. Instead, during a transitional period – initially planned to last until 1 July 2028 – these shipments will be subject to a fee of EUR 3 per tariff line item, rather than per individual product. This means a single charge for five identical T-shirts but two charges for a T-shirt and a pair of shoes. Although this appears to be a purely technical adjustment, it could significantly affect the business model of non-EU platforms, especially Asian e-commerce players that have so far relied heavily on direct shipments to European consumers in their sales strategies.
