France is planning to introduce a handling fee on packages from non-EU online sellers, in a move aimed primarily at the growing influx of cheap goods from China. Government officials announced the plan on Tuesday, stating that the fee would apply to each low-value parcel shipped to French consumers through platforms such as the Chinese-founded Temu and Shein.

In 2024 alone, an estimated 4.6 billion packages worth less than 150 euros ($170) were delivered to the European Union, an average of more than 145 packages per second. Of these, 91% originated in China. France received approximately 800 million of these packages last year.

New handling fee to support customs inspections

Under current EU rules, goods valued below 150 euros and imported directly by mail from outside the Union are exempt from customs duties. The French government argues this loophole is being exploited by foreign platforms and has led to mounting logistical and fiscal burdens at national borders.

Amélie de Montchalin, France’s Minister for Public Accounts, said during a visit to Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Paris that the new fee would be “a few euros” per package and should be paid by “importers and platforms, not consumers.” She added that in some cases, this would amount to just a few cents per item.

The revenue generated from the fee would be used to fund the inspection of incoming goods at border points, helping French authorities manage the high volume of low-value imports.

French government pushes for EU-wide action

Finance Minister Eric Lombard emphasized that France cannot act alone. “If we do this alone, the flows will go to another country,” he said. Both Lombard and De Montchalin stressed the need to build a coalition of EU member states to implement the measure collectively.

“We're hoping to quickly unite a group of countries that could implement such a measure,” De Montchalin said, noting that discussions with European partners are ongoing.

Timeline and long-term customs reform

The French government hopes to implement the handling fee by next year. According to officials, the measure would be in place until at least 2028, when the European Union is expected to consider ending the customs-free status of packages under 150 euros entirely.

By taking this step, France aims to reduce the competitive edge foreign platforms enjoy over domestic and EU-based retailers and to ensure a more equitable contribution to the costs of customs enforcement.

France's GDP expected to dip by 0.5% amid 'outrageous' US tariffs: PM

This also comes as tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump take a particular toll on the European economy. 

France itself may experience a 0.5 percentage point decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth due to Trump's tariff measures, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou warned in an interview published recently.

"Trump's policies could cost us more than 0.5% of our GDP," Bayrou said, according to excerpts from his interview with Le Parisien newspaper.

"The imposition of these outrageous tariffs will lead to a global crisis (...). The risk of job losses is significant, as is that of an economic slowdown," he added.

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