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EU Proposes €2 Fee on Low-Value Parcels, Posing Challenge for Shein and Temu

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The European Union is preparing to introduce a €2 ($2.27) handling fee on low-value e-commerce parcels entering the bloc, a move that could significantly impact fast-growing Chinese platforms like Shein and Temu. The measure is aimed at addressing a surge in online orders and leveling the playing field for European retailers.

In 2024, EU customs authorities processed 4.6 billion low-value parcels — double the figure from 2023 — with 91% arriving from China. The proposed fee, still pending approval by EU member states and the European Parliament, would be paid by the online retailers, not by consumers.

The European Commission said the fee would help fund compliance checks on the flood of packages, including regulations around toy safety and consumer protections. A smaller fee of €0.50 is also proposed for goods processed through EU-based warehouses, potentially favoring global firms with advanced logistics over smaller retailers.

“It’s fair to ask Alibaba, Temu, or Shein to pay their fair share,” said Bernd Lange, Chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee. He noted the burden these shipments place on customs authorities and the need for proper enforcement.

France has already voiced support for the measure, while the EU had previously announced plans to end the duty-free status of goods under €150 — but not until 2028.

Reactions from European retailers have been largely supportive. Zalando welcomed the proposal and called for fast-tracking the removal of the €150 customs exemption. Germany’s HDE retail association also endorsed the fee as a step toward curbing unfair competition.

However, concerns remain. Allegro, a leading Polish e-commerce platform, warned that the €0.50 fee for goods processed in EU warehouses might unintentionally benefit larger global players, while smaller firms would bear the full €2 cost. “The implementation details will be crucial,” said Allegro’s regulatory manager Ewelina Stepnik-Godawa.

Chinese companies have yet to respond, though China’s foreign ministry urged the EU to maintain a “fair, transparent and non-discriminatory” environment for Chinese businesses.

The proposal comes just weeks after the U.S. scrapped its own de minimis rule allowing duty-free entry for goods under $800, reflecting a broader global shift toward tighter e-commerce trade regulation.

Alibaba Partners with RedNote to Boost Instant Retail Amid Fierce China E-Commerce Battle

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Alibaba Group (9988.HK) has entered a strategic partnership with lifestyle content platform RedNote (Xiaohongshu), allowing users to directly shop from RedNote posts via clickable links to Alibaba’s Taobao platform, the companies announced this week. This integration formalizes app-to-app commerce, creating a smoother path from content discovery to purchase and reflecting Alibaba’s aggressive push in the “instant retail” space.

“By combining Taobao and Tmall’s commerce expertise with Xiaohongshu’s strength in lifestyle content, we’re helping brands reach consumers more effectively,” said Liu Bo, Alibaba VP and Tmall president.

Context: Rising E-Commerce Rivalry and Instant Retail Race

The move comes amid intensifying competition among China’s tech giants as consumer confidence remains weak, prompting heavy discounting and platform subsidies.
Alibaba and rivals like JD.com (9618.HK) and Meituan (3690.HK) are increasingly focused on instant retail—offering one-hour delivery of everything from food to fashion and electronics.

  • Meituan continues to dominate China’s instant delivery market

  • Alibaba’s Ele.me supports fast fulfillment for Taobao purchases via a new “instant commerce” section

  • JD.com pledged 10 billion yuan ($1.38B) for its own instant retail strategy in 2024

Strategic Impact of the RedNote Tie-Up

  • Enables shoppable lifestyle content, turning Xiaohongshu posts into direct retail channels

  • Pilot programme will prioritize fast-moving consumer goods and healthcare products—two hot-growth segments in instant retail

  • Supports Alibaba’s ambition to blend social media discovery with seamless, fast commerce

In just five days this month, Alibaba reported completing 10 million instant retail orders, showcasing the scale and momentum behind its rapid delivery model.

This partnership signals Alibaba’s broader aim to tighten ecosystem integration and tap into RedNote’s social commerce influence, especially among China’s younger, trend-focused consumers.

H3C Warns of Nvidia AI Chip Shortage as Chinese Demand Surges

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One of China’s top server manufacturers, H3C, has reportedly warned of a looming shortage of Nvidia’s H20 AI chip—the most advanced processor currently available for sale in China under U.S. export rules. The notice, seen by Reuters, indicates rising concerns about disruptions in the international supply chain and signals possible obstacles for China’s AI development ambitions.

According to the document dated Tuesday, H3C informed clients that existing inventories of the H20 chip are “nearly depleted,” with new shipments only expected around mid-April. The notice blamed geopolitical tensions and raw material disruptions for the uncertainty. It also highlighted challenges in future supply planning beyond April 20 due to changes in shipping routes, production complications, and evolving policy environments.

Shortly after publication, Nvidia declined to comment, and H3C issued a clarification stating that “neither the company nor any of its departments have issued this notice or its related content.” However, industry sources confirmed that the chip is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.

. AI Boom Driving Surging Demand
Demand for the H20 has sharply risen since January, driven by the popularity of Chinese startup DeepSeek’s cost-efficient AI models. Major Chinese tech giants such as Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance have ramped up orders in response, according to previous reporting by Reuters.

An anonymous distributor told Reuters that despite prior assurances about availability, many buyers were ultimately told the chips had already been sold at higher prices. “We were told the chips would be available, but when it came time to actually purchase them, we were informed they had already been sold at higher prices,” the source said.

. Geopolitical Pressures and U.S. Export Controls
The H20 chip was specifically designed by Nvidia to comply with tightened U.S. export restrictions implemented in October 2023. These rules ban the sale of the company’s most powerful chips—such as the A100 and H100—to China over national security concerns. The U.S. believes advanced AI chips could potentially be used to bolster China’s military capabilities.

Despite these restrictions, Nvidia is believed to have shipped around 1 million units of the H20 to China in 2024, generating over $12 billion in revenue.

Washington is also reportedly considering further limitations on even these lower-tier chips, raising the risk of additional constraints on China’s access to cutting-edge AI technologies.

. China’s Response and Domestic Alternatives
H3C is one of Nvidia’s key OEM partners in China, alongside Inspur, Lenovo, and xFusion—a spinoff from Huawei focused on x86 servers. The looming shortage could accelerate China’s efforts to develop and adopt domestic alternatives such as Huawei’s Ascend chips and Cambricon’s AI processors.

H3C’s internal communication reportedly emphasized a “profit-first” distribution model for upcoming chip deliveries, favoring long-term, high-margin customers. This signals that the chip shortage could hit smaller AI startups and new entrants the hardest, potentially reshaping China’s fast-evolving AI ecosystem.