From 1 July 2026, shipments from outside the European Union worth up to EUR 150 shall be subject to a work of EUR 3 per separate tariff category of goods. The application data whenUbuy indicates that customers of Temu, AliExpress and Shein buy little trifles, but choose more costly products. For Polish families this means the end of many seemingly inexpensive purchases.
Three euros changes the bill for a inexpensive package
As of 1 July 2026, the customs exemption for consignments of up to EUR 150, which scope customers in the European Union, ended. For a transitional period until 1 July 2028, the rate of EUR 3 per separate category of goods specified in the tariff subheading shall apply. If the package contains 2 products of 1 category, the fee is EUR 3. 2 different categories are EUR 6. That's the regulation he describes. Council of the European Union in the Communication on fresh customs legislation.
It's an crucial distinction. The slogan ‘EUR 3 per product’ may propose a fee on each piece, although the rules entail a tariff category. For a client buying 1 inexpensive gadget the difference does not change much. Goods for respective zlotys may receive a customs cost higher than their own price. With a larger and varied basket, the account grows with the number of categories.
VAT on imported online purchases did not only appear now. The Union abolished the VAT exemption for tiny consignments as early as 2021. A fresh 1 since July 2026 is simply a temporary duty. The consumer should so check the summary of the contract and not confuse both claims.
Temu, AliExpress and Shein after fresh duties
Analysis of the data of the application whenUbuy, described by the Warsaw service in Pigułka, shows a clear change in client behaviour. On this, the average number of products in the basket was to fall by half, to 2.8 pieces, and the average value of a single product increased by 50%. The full monthly user budget remained unchangeable according to the analysis.
At AliExpress the average number of products was 1.1 pieces, while the cart value almost doubled. Monthly client spending was expected to increase by 20%. In Shein's case, the average basket counted 1.7 products, the value of a single commodity increased by 20 percent, and the full basket by 42 percent. Monthly expenditure was to stay similar.
These numbers should be taken fairly. The material does not indicate the size of the sample, the comparison period or the detailed methodology of the study. The data well describe the possible direction of change, but are not adequate to formulate applications for all Polish clients. They confirm a simple calculation: the fixed fee most hits small-value shopping.
The editorial has already described how Temu, Shein and AliExpress are costly after changing the rules. Current data shows the next stage. The client does not gotta quit the platform, but restricts trifles, connects orders and more frequently chooses more costly goods.
Brussels evens the conditions at the expense of the portfolio
The EU decision has a rational starting point. The mass influx of inexpensive packages from 3rd countries created unequal conditions for Polish and European retailers who bear the costs of regulating, taxing and screening products. The elimination of the exemption may reduce the artificial splitting of consignments and the lowering of their value.
However, you must not pretend that the bill is missing. It is paid by the recipient in Poland, either straight or at the price raised by the platform. We besides described earlier Another EU acquisition charge from China. Each fresh tribute should be assessed by the prism of its effects on families and tiny businesses, not by the satisfaction of officials with another collection mechanism.
For Polish entrepreneurs it is only a chance if the state does not give them fresh responsibilities at the same time. The specified journey of the Chinese pack will not build home trade or production. Simpler taxes, cheaper energy and enforcement of the same standards for imported goods are needed. Otherwise Brussels will take any of the savings from the consumer, and Polish business will proceed to fight the costs created in Europe.
Source: Warsaw in Pill and the Council of the European Union.
Source: Warsaw in Pigulka
