The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has imposed a EUR 3 customs handling fee on parcels worth less than EUR 150, targeting the growing volume of inexpensive goods sold through platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.
The measure, which took effect on Wednesday, ends the duty-free treatment previously enjoyed by these shipments.
In EU member Poland, Chinese marketplaces such as AliExpress and Temu have become some of the country's most popular online shopping destinations, attracting millions of customers with ultra-low prices, frequent promotions and a wide range of products.
"The levy applies to very low-value goods that Poles buy by the millions," economist Arkadiusz Kawa told public broadcaster Polish Radio.
"Last year alone, more than 100 million such items were imported into Poland," he said. "Handling that volume is a huge logistical challenge, so consumers are likely to bear the cost."
(mo/gs)
Click on the audio player above for a report by Michał Owczarek.