Andrews welcomes €3 levy on fast fashion packages

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews has welcomed an EU decision to introduce a €3 customs duty per item on cheap e-commerce parcels, starting in July 2026.

Andrews, who previously called for the EU to place a €5 levy on ultra-fast fashion purchases from China, said “as a negotiator on some of the key pieces of EU legislation to tackle the problem of ‘ultra-fast fashion’, I have long called on the EU to tackle the billions of low-cost items coming into the EU.”

“Today’s agreement on a €3 customs duty per item is very welcome, however EU Member States must increase it in future if  €3 does not prove effective in stemming the flood of cheap deliveries from China,” he said.

Andrews noted that there are over 4 billion packages delivered directly to homes in Europe each year, with the vast majority coming from China.

“The constant buying and disposing of low-cost clothing is driving massive environmental pollution, widespread exploitation of workers and the undercutting of more sustainable European businesses,” he said.

“The current EU custom rules unfairly favour ‘ultra-fast fashion’ and low-cost online giants, such as Shein and Temu, by allowing millions of low-value parcels to enter the EU without full checks or customs charges.

“I welcome that the EU has now taken action but it must be prepared to do more.”