Shopping from China will become more expensive. EU introduces new flat duty on small shipments

For many years, shopping from Chinese online stores has been a common part of the hobby among radio amateurs, QRP constructors and technical experimenters. Many components, connectors, relays, ferrite cores, modules, measuring instruments or kits could be purchased at prices that European suppliers could not compete with. However, from the summer of 2026, a significant change is coming that will affect practically everyone who orders goods from countries outside the European Union.

The European Union is abolishing the current duty exemption for shipments worth up to 150 euros and introducing a new temporary flat-rate duty of 3 euros for each customs item in the shipment. The new rules will mainly affect purchases from China through platforms such as AliExpress, Temu or Shein.

Why are new fees being introduced?

The change is due to the sharp increase in the number of low-cost shipments arriving in the European Union from third countries. European customs authorities have long warned that processing millions of small packages represents a significant administrative burden and creates an uneven playing field between European and non-European sellers.

According to the European Union, the new measure is intended to contribute to a fairer collection of import duties, better control of imported goods and to limit the influx of extremely cheap products that often escape more detailed controls. The Slovak Financial Administration also states that it is a response to a significant increase in cheap shipments from third countries that burden the customs systems of member states.

When will the new rules apply?

The new flat rate will apply from 1 July 2026. The date of the order will not be the decisive date, but the date of receipt of the customs declaration. If the shipment is declared after this date, the new rules will apply.

The measure applies to shipments from countries outside the European Union with a value of goods up to 150 euros. This is the limit that has so far been exempt from customs duties.

How the calculation will work in practice

Many customers think of the term "3 euros per parcel" as a single fee for the entire shipment. In reality, the situation is a bit more complicated. The flat rate duty will not be calculated for the parcel as a whole, but for individual customs items according to the customs classification of the goods.

For example, if a radio amateur orders ten identical PL-259 connectors in one shipment, it will usually be one customs item and the duty will be 3 euros. However, if he orders connectors, relays and ferrite cores, it may be three different customs items, with the resulting fee being 9 euros.

Examples of price increases

The financial report also provides a model example of a shipment worth 9 euros. If it concerns one customs item, the resulting amount after adding the flat-rate duty reaches 12 euros.

For cheap components, the percentage increase in price can be significant. If a radio amateur orders a small adapter for 2 euros, the customs fee alone will be higher than the price of the product. For more expensive items, such as an antenna analyzer or SDR receivers for tens of euros, the relative impact will be significantly smaller.

What does this mean for radio amateurs?

The biggest impact will be felt by designers who regularly order small quantities of parts. It may be more advantageous to group orders of the same type of goods or purchase from European distributors, especially for inexpensive items with a low unit price.

On the contrary, for more expensive devices, SDR modules, measurement technology or power components, the additional fee will only represent a small part of the total price.

Conclusion

The period when it was possible to order large quantities of cheap parts from China without additional customs costs ends on July 1, 2026. The new flat-rate duty of 3 euros per customs item may seem low, but it represents a significant increase in the price of small purchases.

For radio amateurs and designers, this means the need to plan orders more carefully and monitor the total cost of imports more closely. Especially for small orders, it may turn out that the difference between buying from Asia and from a European supplier will no longer be as significant as in the past.