France to tax small parcels from China amid tariff fallout fears

Le ministre de l'Économie Éric Lombard (2e à gauche) s'entretient avec des douaniers français aux côtés de la ministre chargée des Comptes publics, Amélie de Montchalin (centre), de la ministre déléguée au Commerce Véronique Louwagie (2e à droite) et de la secrétaire d'État chargée de l'IA et du numérique, Clara Chappaz (1ère à droite), dans un entrepôt de l'aéroport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, le 29 avril 2025. Photo: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP
Source: AFP

France volition from adjacent twelvemonth enforce a handling taxation for each tiny parcel sent from China sent by platforms specified arsenic Shein and Temu, a curate said Tuesday.

The complaint was announced by nationalist accounts curate Amelie de Montchalin amidst planetary concerns that tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump could unit much Chinese goods into different markets.

Montchalin said the taxation would beryllium a "a fewer euros" for each parcel, oregon a fewer cents for each article. The aim, she added, was for platforms to wage alternatively than the consumer.

The European Union is aiming to betterment its customs national by 2028 and the minister's bureau said France wanted "the accelerated constitution astatine the European level of a handling interest mechanics for each tiny bundle entering Europe."

French officials accidental that unless a European strategy is acceptable up, parcels taxed by France volition conscionable participate the EU done different subordinate country.

Money raised done the French taxation would beryllium utilized to concern inspections, the minister's bureau told AFP, and the taxation would beryllium replaced erstwhile a European strategy starts.

The European Commission this twelvemonth recommended ending taxation escaped introduction for packages worthy little than 150 euros ($170). Some 4.6 cardinal packages falling into the tax-free bracket entered the EU successful 2024, according to authoritative figures. More than 90 percent came from China. About 800 cardinal entered France.

France's Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME) connected Tuesday called for a "state of emergency" to antagonistic the "invasion" of tiny packages bought online.

Source: AFP