EU's €3 parcel duty hits small exporters as tariff kicks in

The European Union will impose a €3 charge on small parcels entering the 27-nation bloc starting July 1 to stem a surge in low-value shipments, mainly from China. According to reporting on the measure, the duty aims to level the playing field between overseas sellers and European merchants who already pay import taxes on goods sold within the union.

For Emilia-Romagna's food and machinery exporters, the timing coincides with summer peaks in direct-to-consumer sales. Producers of Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamico vinegar, and small engineering components have increasingly relied on parcel shipping to reach customers in North America and Asia, bypassing traditional wholesale channels. The new fee will raise the cost of entry for foreign buyers and may redirect demand toward larger consolidated shipments or established distributors.