Since 1 July, the EU has levied a €3 customs duty on parcels worth under €150 and the measure is already biting as imports, especially from China, have slumped by 30% to 40%.
Chinese imports plunge 30% to 40% after EU tax on small parcels
https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/08/27/eu-tax-chinese-small-parcels-plunge-30-to-40
13 Comments
RobotToaster@mander.xyz · 18 pts · 5d
Yeah sure, if you don't count all the Chinese stuff bought from Amazon...
MrMakabar@slrpnk.net · 43 pts · 5d
That is the difference. If you buy it from an EU based retailer, they will have imported something like a shipping container filled with the same type of product. So you need to basically check for that product once, if it is dangerous or whatever. If you get a bunch of very different products coming in via parcels, that can easily be 1000x more checks being required, which is basically impossible to do.
This is not about punishing China, but to make sure that Chinese sellers are actually following EU laws, when selling their products in the EU.
a4ng3l@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 5d
They are reliably the exact same products between Amazon and AliExpress… and I have doubts that those flowing through Amazon are under more scrutiny at this stage. There’s typically only a markup and that’s it. Same support mailbox and all even.
skarn@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 3d
Often the parcel is sent from China, when I buy from Amazon.
Honytawk@discuss.tchncs.de · 0 pts · 3d
Even if they are the exact same product from the exact same seller from the exact same factory.
If they want to be sold in Europe, they will have to conform to EU law. Currently Chinese sellers don't do this. But if Amazon didn't then they would get sued into oblivion.
a4ng3l@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3d
I’m quite aware of the theory and how regulations apply.
From what I see there is no functional difference between Amazon and AliExpress though. Both seem to largely skim QC. It’s also generally self-certified so the whole point is relatively irrelevant.
No one will sue AliExpress or Amazon from a small consumer perspective.
But politics for sure love to toy with China more than USA.
From where I sit it all seems very much posturing.
medem@lemmy.wtf · 4 pts · 5d
For a wild moment, I thought those were pigs in a slaughterhouse...
Drusas@fedia.io · 1 pts · 5d
Took me a moment because my initial thought after reading the title was, "Why would imports in China drop because of a tariff in the EU?"
Michal@programming.dev · -19 pts · 5d
Plunge implies downward movement.
ImgurRefugee114@reddthat.com · 35 pts · 5d
Which... Is the case?
Michal@programming.dev · 5 pts · 5d
Ok, i misunderstood the title. I though it meant plunged (from) 30 to 40, not plunged (by) 30 to 40 percent.
With the two numbers, i interpreted that the value has changed from one to the other, not that it decreased by a range of values. It seemed more intuitive to me.
jackal@feddit.uk · 1 pts · 3d
It's alright mate you're not the only one.
huppakee@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 5d
Did you expect the increased price would lead to increased demand?