EU's New €3 Import Levy Targets Low-Value Parcels — 90%+ From China, Including Fishing Tackle

The European Union’s new €3 customs duty on low-value e-commerce parcels took effect on July 1, 2026, targeting the growing flood of parcels valued at under €150 entering the bloc — of which more than 90% originate in China.

The measure is significant for China’s fishing tackle industry, which has increasingly used cross-border e-commerce to sell directly to European consumers. For Chinese fishing tackle manufacturers and exporters, the levy represents a new cost layer in an environment already shaped by US tariffs and shifting trade dynamics.

The Scale of the Problem

According to the European Commission, almost 5.9 billion parcels valued below €150 entered the EU during 2025, with over 90% originating in China. The Commission says the current system places European businesses at a competitive disadvantage while increasing risks of unsafe or non-compliant products entering the market.

“The EU wants to close the regulatory gap that allows overseas sellers to bypass customs duties that European-based businesses must pay,” the Commission stated. The new €3 fixed duty applies to all consignments valued at under €150 entering the bloc from outside the EU.

A separate handling fee is also expected later in 2026.

EFTTA’s Response

The European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) has welcomed the decision but says the measure is only the first step. “This is one of the main concerns, if not the main concern, of the trade today,” said EFTTA Public Affairs Officer Jan Kappel. “Our members see a clear risk in these low-value shipments and want to stop this as quickly as possible.”

EFTTA has been tracking the issue closely and made it a central topic during its Angling Summit in November 2025, where customs experts from Deloitte presented an overview of the EU’s planned reforms.

However, EFTTA believes the practical impact of the €3 levy will be limited. “It is a start, but we expect it to have low impact,” said Kappel. “The handling fee may also help a bit, but important issues like the lack of control need to be sorted out as soon as possible.”

What EFTTA Really Wants

Beyond the levy, EFTTA is pushing for stronger enforcement and closer political cooperation between the EU and China to close existing loopholes. The association wants every company selling fishing tackle into the European market to compete under the same rules.

“We seek equal enforcement of existing laws,” said Kappel. “Every product sold in the EU — regardless of origin or sales channel — should comply with the same rules on product safety, intellectual property, environmental responsibility, VAT, customs and consumer protection. Competition should be based on innovation and quality, not on regulatory loopholes, illegal copying or export subsidies.”

What’s Next

The €3 duty is intended as an interim measure before the EU Customs Data Hub begins handling e-commerce imports in 2028, with the fully digital customs system becoming mandatory for all traders by 2034.

For Chinese fishing tackle manufacturers, the immediate impact of the levy is modest — €3 per parcel will not significantly affect pricing on higher-value items. However, the direction of travel is clear: European regulators are tightening the screws on low-value e-commerce imports, and Chinese exporters should expect further measures in the years ahead.

Manufacturers selling direct-to-consumer via platforms like AliExpress, Amazon, or their own e-commerce sites should factor the new costs into their European pricing strategies and monitor the expected handling fee announcement later this year.

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