Buying cheap trinkets on Chinese marketplaces like Temu, Shein, or AliExpress is no longer necessarily a good deal for residents of Slovakia. The July customs changes have taken effect, and the European Parliament has already approved a major reform of the EU Customs Code. All of this is intended to create a level playing field for European sellers and protect the market from an uncontrolled influx of Asian imports.
First consequences: Slovaks are cutting back on orders
According to a survey by the research agency 2muse, the introduction of a temporary duty of 3 euros per item in packages valued at up to 150 euros has significantly impacted order volumes.
Statistics show a marked change in buyer behavior:
20% of the population has completely stopped ordering goods from Chinese platforms.
40% of shoppers have significantly reduced the frequency or volume of their purchases.
Trends in regular orders across platforms: Temu — down 11%, Shein — down 8%, AliExpress — down 1%.
“I used to constantly order small items on Temu, but after the fees went up, it didn’t make sense anymore,” says a shopper from Slovakia. Many consumers note that the only cost-effective option now is to buy large, bundled packages, where customs duties don’t significantly impact the final price of each item.
It’s Not Just About Price: The Risks of Cheap Imports
The E-commerce Slovakia Association emphasizes that financial benefit isn’t the only factor worth considering.
Safety and quality. Products from Asia often do not meet the EU’s strict safety and environmental standards.
Return issues. In the event of a defect or non-conformity, buyers often face complicated return and refund procedures.
Unequal competition. Slovak and European companies pay their taxes honestly and comply with all laws, while Asian giants have long exploited loopholes in customs regulations.
To retain European customers, Chinese platforms have already begun to adapt—they are building warehouse complexes on a massive scale directly within the European Union.
A New Wave of Changes: An EU-Wide Handling Fee
On Wednesday, September 16, the European Parliament took a decisive step—it finally approved the most extensive reform of the EU Customs Code since 1968.
What the reform entails:
An EU-wide handling fee: it will be charged for each item in small parcels coming from outside the EU. The amount will be set by the European Commission and reviewed every two years (previously, the benchmark was set at 2 euros).
Implementation timeline: Member States are required to begin collecting the fee no later than November 1 of this year.
Who pays: The fee is intended to be paid by the importer or the e-commerce platform to minimize the direct passing on of costs to the end consumer.
New regulatory body: A special EU Customs Agency is being established in Lille, France, which will coordinate 80,000 European customs officers and ensure uniform control rules across all member states.
“I have seen with my own eyes the influx of Chinese packages that violate EU rules, evade taxes, and paralyze the work of our customs agencies. Finally, we are giving customs authorities the tools to protect consumers and businesses,” said Dirk Gothink, the rapporteur for the proposal in the European Parliament.
The European Parliament’s adoption was the final step following approval by the Council of the EU. The document will be published in the Official Journal of the EU in the coming days, after which it will immediately enter into force.
