Shopping on Temu and Shein May Get More Expensive Starting in November: A New Shipping Fee

Purchases from Temu and Shein shipped from outside the European Union may become more expensive due to a new fee for processing imported shipments. According to the European Commission, this fee is to be introduced by November 1, 2026, in addition to the existing €3 duty per tariff category for packages valued at up to €150. The final amount of the new fee will be determined separately, and the impact on prices will depend on how much of the cost sellers pass on to buyers.

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What will change for purchases from Temu and Shein in November?

The new fee on packages entering the EU is intended to cover customs costs for data verification, risk analysis, and inspection of imported goods. This is a separate fee that will be added to the existing duty. It will apply to online sales involving the import of goods from outside the European Union, not just orders from Temu and Shein.

It is important for shoppers to distinguish between two payments:

1. A €3 duty, effective July 1, 2026. It is calculated based on tariff categories for shipments valued at up to €150.

2. A processing fee, scheduled to be introduced by November 1, 2026. The European Commission will determine its amount in a separate regulation.

Reports of the changes mention an amount of €2, but verified official documents from the European Commission do not yet specify the final amount. Therefore, it is premature to claim that all orders will automatically become €5 more expensive for each product category.

Price increases for purchases from Temu and Shein will depend on the sellers’ pricing policies. They may factor the new costs into the price of goods, change shipping terms, or cover some of the costs themselves. The reform places responsibility for customs formalities and payment of duties on platforms and other parties involved in the sale, but this does not rule out an increase in the final price for the buyer.

In a previous article, we reported that the EU has introduced a new duty on cheap packages from abroad.

How much will you have to pay for packages sent to the EU?

The duty on packages worth up to 150 euros depends on the number of tariff categories in the shipment. Several identical items may fall under the same category. At the same time, even similar clothing items sometimes have different customs codes due to differences in fabric composition.

The current duty—excluding the new handling fee, VAT, and shipping costs—is calculated as follows:

- Five T-shirts in the same tariff category – €3. The number of items does not increase the payment within this category and within a single package

- A T-shirt and a watch – €6. These are two different categories

- One silk blouse and two wool blouses – €6. Due to the different materials, the items belong to two tariff categories

- A charger, a T-shirt, and a book – €9. There are three separate categories in the shipment

Categories are counted specifically within a given shipment, not across the entire shopping cart. If the seller splits the order into multiple shipments, the total duty amount may change.

VAT on purchases within the EU depends on the destination country and the type of goods. There is no single 21% rate for the entire European Union. For example, books and clothing may be taxed at different rates. If VAT is already included in the total when the purchase is made, it does not need to be added again.

A new processing fee will become a separate cost component. Until the amount and calculation method are confirmed, the “€15 for three categories” estimate remains unconfirmed. At the same time, customs duties do not necessarily mean an equivalent additional cost for the buyer: the seller may already have factored them into the price or may cover part of them themselves.

Why is the EU tightening controls, and what should you check before ordering?

In 2025, approximately 5.9 billion low-cost goods were imported into the European Union via e-commerce—roughly four times more than in 2022. This influx complicates inspections and increases the burden on customs authorities. The new fee on packages entering the EU is intended to help fund these controls.

The issue also concerns product safety. During targeted inspections in 2025, over 60% of the goods inspected in certain categories did not meet EU requirements. Violations included a lack of proper labeling, prohibited ingredients, and missing safety documentation. These are the results of random inspections, not the proportion of hazardous goods among all imports.

Before ordering from Temu and Shein, you should check:

1. Where the goods are being shipped from. Shipping from a warehouse in the EU and direct imports from a third country are subject to different customs procedures. The platform’s name alone is not enough to determine the fees

2. What’s included in the final price. Check whether VAT, customs duties, shipping, and other stated costs are included

3. Whether orders are split into separate shipments. Separate shipments can affect the total amount of customs duties

4. Who is responsible for additional charges. Keep your order confirmation and price breakdown. They will help you clarify the situation if you are asked to pay extra before delivery

The next stage of the reform will be the creation of a European customs authority in Lille, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2027. For shoppers, the key guideline right now is the total cost of the order before payment. This is what you should compare with offers from other sellers, not just the price of the item on an advertising banner.

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We remind you! High incomes, affordable housing, and life expectancy determine how comfortable a city can be for its residents. Read more about the 10 European cities leading in quality of life in 2026, their advantages, and the nuances of moving there.