In confusion, consumers and a market on the 3 euro duty imposed by the Commission on transactions of less than 150 euros by external electronic commerce platforms from 1 July.
Many questions about who is paying the 3 euro, whether the consumer is ultimately burdened and what is involved in the orders launched from Monday, July 1. With just a few days of application of the regulation, all of this remains to be clarified in practice, as they have pointed out to OT market sources.
Who pays three euros?
The charge depends on how delivery takes place, i.e. if the seller himself - i.e. the platform - has been declared or the buyer has been charged with it.
As noted in the Circular and the AADE «in the customs terminology, the party to pay the customs duty shall be called a declarant and become the debtor. The legislation implementing the customs duty of €3 expressly states that the debtor cannot be the consumer.
Legal responsibility for the proper payment of the customs duty €3 on arrival in the EU shall be borne by platforms and sellers, or the carrier or agent declaring the goods to the customs authorities. Therefore, this is not a charge levied by the buyer on delivery».
«The decision belongs to the seller as in any case of duties», noted to the OT, the President of the ESREE Stavros Kafounis.
What shein do, Temu
It was immediately the reflexes of outside companies, with Temu and Shein taking their measures.
Temu went on to set a minimum amount of EUR 10 for the first order and EUR 20 for the next orders. It also ensures that customers are informed of additional import-related charges. In particular, «For orders sent from non-EU countries worth EUR 150 or less, Temu will charge import fees of EUR 3 per different type of order, plus the VAT applicable. To this end, the same species will be calculated only once. The current import charges will be shown separately and charged upon completion of the market. Unless otherwise stated, import-related fees will not be included in the amount used and determined whether the conditions for obtaining promotional benefits are met».
While Shein in the Greek version of its application, she proposes selection «EU warehouse», coupons and free shipping under specific conditions. In case of receipt by a locker or store the cost for amounts below EUR 19 is EUR 4,90, while in case of normal dispatch, the cost for amounts below EUR 19 is also EUR 4,90. In both cases, shipping costs are free for orders over 19 euros (instead of 39 euros previously).
The fall and danger
Everyone's waiting «note a small belly on orders» Makis Savvidis, vice president of the ESR, noted.
Something Mr. Kafounis expects. «Obviously there will be some retreat and that is the purpose of this particular action. We make this effort so that every euro that does not leave outside platforms stays in Europe and Greece, abolishing de minimis».
The new EUR 3 duty is a transitional measure and will apply until 30 June 2028, so that anyone who sells on the European market must be subject to the same laws.
«But these two years seem to have been given to adapt the platforms to the new regime, so that there is no disturbance in Europe's relationship with China.»Mr. Savidis appreciates it.
«They'll look for loopholes to continue trading. For example, representatives in Greece, such as logistic centers or transporters, who will import and store large quantities and deliver at small cost».
Numbers speak for themselves
In 2025 4 billion deliveries were made from outside companies to European consumers.
With an average order of EUR 40 per package, it is estimated that the turnover reached EUR 160 billion in a total of 23 trillion for Europe's GDP, where the purchasing power is estimated at 30 trillion.
Source: OT
