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Increase in Asian Package Deliveries from E-commerce: France's Cautious Counteraction

Government plans to impose management fees on platforms to combat shipments of low-value goods, primarily originating from China. This move is criticized as inadequate by French retail industry experts.

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Increase in Asian Package Deliveries from E-commerce: France's Cautious Counteraction

In 2024, a staggering 4.6 billion e-commerce parcels worth under €150 each poured into the European market, equating to over 145 per second. This volume has skyrocketed annually since 2021, with a whopping 91% originating from China. Just last year, France alone received 800 million such parcels.

To combat this deluge, prompted by retail giants like Shein and Temu, the French government is mulling over a plan to make importers and e-commerce platforms, not consumers, shell out a tiny flat fee for each parcel. Amélie de Montchalin, the Minister of Public Accounts, shared this insight during a visit to Roissy Airport, France's main air freight hub, accompanied by three other ministers, including the Minister of Economy, Eric Lombard, on April 29.

This fee could amount to "a few euros" per parcel or "a few cents" per item, according to Montchalin, though no exact figures have been disclosed. The implementation is scheduled to kick off on January 1, 2026, and it aligns with the European Union's plans to abolish the duty-free exemption for parcels under €150 by 2028.

Meanwhile, the government also plans to beef up checks on these parcels' adherence to safety and health standards, but penalties won't be raised – only the public listing of withdrawn products will be made available. France is pushing for an earlier end to the €150 duty-free allowance for e-commerce imports and increased fraud control, labeling, and environmental inspections[1][2]. The EU has planned to scrap the duty-free treatment by 2028, but France is advocating for a sooner rollout[4].

While a definitive starting date for this French initiative is still under wraps, EU coordination is required before it goes live. Temporary national measures might be put in place pending EU action[1].

  1. Amélie de Montchalin, the Minister of Public Accounts, suggested a plan to impose a flat fee of "a few euros" or "a few cents" per parcel on importers and e-commerce platforms.
  2. This proposed fee is aimed at combating the influx of e-commerce parcels, primarily originating from China, which totaled 800 million in France alone last year.
  3. The French government's plan aligns with the European Union's intention to abolish the duty-free exemption for parcels under €150 by 2028.
  4. In addition to this fee, the government also plans to strengthen checks on the safety and health standards of these parcels and increase fraud control, labeling, and environmental inspections.
Government wants to impose fees on platforms to combat low-value items, predominantly from China. French business community is dissatisfied with this proposed action.
Government plans to impose management fees on platforms to combat delivery of low-value items, predominantly from China. The move is criticized as inadequate by French business specialists.
Government Proposes Levying Management Fees on Platforms, Primarily Targeting Low-Value Goods Imports, Particularly from China. This Move is Criticized as Inadequate by French Trade Sector Professionals.

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