Greek Retailers Call on EU to Accelerate Fee on Low-Value E-Commerce Parcels
Greek retailers have urged the European Union to implement earlier than planned a €2 ($2.30) handling fee on low-value e-commerce packages entering the bloc, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.
The EU had announced in May plans to end the duty-free treatment for consignments valued at €150 or less and impose the new fee starting in 2028, aiming to address the surge of online goods imports, primarily from Asia.
In the letter addressed to EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, Stavros Kafounis, president of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce, requested the fee be applied no later than 2026.
EU customs handled around 4.6 billion low-value parcels in 2024, with 91% originating from China, a figure that doubled from 2023. Approximately 20% of Greek e-commerce sales revenue goes to Chinese platforms, a share expected to grow sharply in the coming years.
Kafounis emphasized that the rapid expansion of major Chinese e-commerce platforms has distorted fair competition within the EU retail market.
Under the proposal, the €2 fee would be charged to online retailers rather than consumers. The measure still requires approval from EU member states and the European Parliament.