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EU to Replace €3 Temu Tax With New Customs System in 2028
EU to Replace €3 Temu Tax With New Customs System in 2028
The European Union plans to abolish the controversial €3 customs duty on low-value online imports by July 2028, replacing it with a value-based calculation system. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed this timeline in correspondence with Maltese MEP Peter Agius, who raised concerns about the financial impact on island consumers.
The European Union intends to replace the controversial €3 customs duty on low-value online purchases with a new calculation system starting in July 2028. This timeline was confirmed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a letter addressed to Maltese Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Peter Agius.
The correspondence followed a June inquiry from Agius, who expressed concern regarding the financial burden of the charge on Maltese consumers. He highlighted that residents already face elevated delivery costs due to Malta’s geographic isolation as an island nation.
In her response, written in Maltese, von der Leyen characterized the €3 levy as a temporary measure pending the implementation of the EU’s reformed customs framework. She explained that from July 2028, a new EU Customs Data Hub will enable duties to be calculated based on the value, origin, and tariff classification of imported goods, moving away from the current flat-rate approach.
Von der Leyen also clarified the legal responsibility for the current duty, stating that platforms and operators supplying the goods are liable for payment rather than individual consumers. However, she noted this does not guarantee shoppers will be shielded from higher prices if businesses choose to pass the costs on.
The Commission President defended the regulatory changes by arguing that the previous €150 customs exemption placed European retailers at a competitive disadvantage compared to non-EU online shopping platforms. She cited data indicating that nearly 5.9 billion low-value items entered the EU in 2025.
Agius welcomed the confirmation of a target date for the new system but warned that Maltese consumers could still face increased costs in the interim. He argued that purchasing from European retailers often involves considerably higher delivery charges to Malta than ordering from Chinese platforms such as Temu and Shein.
The MEP is proposing EU-backed measures to assist Maltese businesses in offering cheaper delivery options for purchases from European sellers. While the 2028 reform will alter how customs duties are calculated, it does not imply that all taxes or charges on imports from platforms like Temu and Shein will disappear.
B.Mercier--PS
