Belgium Plans €2 Parcel Fee on Non-EU Packages

Belgium is weighing a new Belgium parcel tax of €2 on every package imported from outside the European Union, a move aimed at managing the surge in low-value shipments and narrowing the national budget deficit. If adopted, the measure would primarily affect cross-border e-commerce flows from platforms such as AliExpress, Shein, and Temu, and would apply to individual parcels valued at €150 or less as early as next year.

What's in the Belgian proposal

Under a plan advanced by the governing party Les Engagés, each qualifying parcel from non-EU origins would incur a €2 charge. Belgian Customs estimates roughly 1.4 billion inbound parcels this year; policymakers believe the levy could raise hundreds of millions of euros to help reduce the deficit.

Industry reaction

Belgium's e-commerce association, Becom, offered cautious support, calling the policy a step toward a “more level playing field.” The group argues that a disproportionate share of unsafe goods in Europe originate from outside the EU and that tighter enforcement—backed by revenue from the Belgium parcel tax—could help correct market imbalances.
At the same time, Becom urged coordination at the EU e-commerce regulation level. Without similar measures across member states, the association warns, traffic and tax revenue could divert to countries without such fees, softening the intended effects.

Where the money should go, according to Becom

Becom recommends channeling a portion of proceeds into enforcement infrastructure: modern scanning technology, digital training for staff, and interoperable data-sharing systems to detect and deter non-compliance more effectively.

The EU-level plan—and a longer timeline

In parallel, the European Commission is advancing an EU-wide fixed-fee concept: a €2 charge per parcel paid by platforms, or €0.50 if shipments are first routed into European warehouses. Unlike Belgium's budget-oriented plan, the EU proposal is designed to finance more inspections and strengthen execution of existing rules to keep unsafe and counterfeit products out of the single market.

However, the EU measure still requires approval from the European Parliament and member states and is not expected to take effect before March 2028. When those EU changes arrive, today's import duty exemption for non-EU parcels valued under €150 is also slated to end.

Will a €2 fee change shopper behavior?

Experts note that a €2 charge is modest relative to the price savings and product variety that have fueled the rise of Chinese marketplaces. As a result, the fee alone may not meaningfully diminish these platforms' appeal among European consumers—especially for low-value, high-frequency purchases. Nonetheless, higher compliance scrutiny and the eventual removal of low-value duty exemptions could raise overall landed costs and operational complexity over time.

What sellers and shippers should do next

• Model landed costs now: Add a €2 line item to small-parcel scenarios into Belgium and consider the EU-level €2/€0.50 structures for medium-term planning.
• Tighten compliance: Expect more checks on product safety, labeling, and documentation under evolving EU e-commerce regulation.
• Consider consolidation: Routing via EU warehouses could reduce per-parcel fees under the Commission's concept while improving delivery speed and return handling.
• Audit data flows: Ensure product, customs, and platform data are consistent to prevent holds and fines as enforcement ramps up.

How Forest Shipping can help

As cross-border rules evolve, Forest Shipping, a China-based freight forwarder, supports sellers with end-to-end planning—from carton consolidation and duty/VAT simulation to IOR/EOR solutions and EU warehouse routing. Our team helps you compare DDP vs. DAP options, optimize parcel-to-bulk thresholds, and maintain compliance as Belgium and the EU tighten oversight.

Belgium's proposed Belgium parcel tax is an early signal of Europe's shift toward stricter oversight of cross-border e-commerce. While a €2 fee may not upend shopper demand, the cumulative impact of enforcement funding and the eventual removal of low-value duty exemptions could reshape cost structures by 2028. Planning ahead—with the right logistics partner—will keep your operations compliant and cost-effective as EU e-commerce regulation continues to evolve.