The €3 customs duty on low-value online purchases from platforms such as Temu and Shein will be replaced by a new system from July 2028, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has told Maltese MEP Peter Agius in a letter.

Her reply, written in Maltese, followed a letter Agius sent in June raising concerns about how the charge would affect Maltese consumers, especially those already paying high delivery costs because of Malta’s island location. Von der Leyen confirmed the €3 duty is meant as a temporary measure, pending the arrival of the EU’s reformed customs system.

From July 2028, a new EU Customs Data Hub is expected to let duties be worked out by the value, origin and tariff classification of imported goods, replacing the current flat rate.

Von der Leyen also clarified that legal responsibility for paying the €3 duty sits with the platforms and operators supplying the goods, not with consumers directly. That does not mean shoppers will avoid higher prices, since businesses may pass the costs on.

She defended the changes, arguing that the previous €150 customs exemption left European retailers at a disadvantage against non-EU shopping platforms. Nearly 5.9 billion low-value items entered the EU in 2025.

Agius welcomed the target date but warned that Maltese consumers could still face higher costs in the meantime. He argued that buying from European retailers can mean considerably higher delivery charges to Malta than ordering from Chinese platforms.

The MEP is also proposing EU-backed measures to help Maltese businesses offer cheaper deliveries on purchases from European sellers. The 2028 reform could change how customs duties are calculated, but it does not mean every tax or charge on Temu and Shein purchases will disappear.