May 2, 2025, marks a turning point in international trade: the United States has ended the so-called de minimis customs exemption for parcels valued under $800 coming from China. This decision, far from trivial, reshuffles the deck of global e-commerce—where speed and volume have too often taken precedence over fairness and regulatory compliance.

or several years, platforms like Temu and Shein have built their business models on this customs advantage, shipping millions of parcels directly to American and European consumers without paying traditional customs duties. The result: a blatant distortion of competition with local players, who face much stricter fiscal, social, and environmental obligations.

Ending this exemption on the U.S. side—coupled with surcharges of up to 145%—aims to level the playing field. But it could also trigger a domino effect across Europe. France is already considering the introduction of “handling fees” on non-EU parcels as early as 2026, pending a possible EU-wide reform of the €150 exemption threshold, scheduled for 2028. For many French retail stakeholders, that’s too little, too late.

The threat is clear: if the U.S. closes its market, these shipping flows could shift en masse toward the EU, which is already the primary destination for cheap Chinese parcels. In 2024, over 4.6 billion parcels under €150 crossed European borders—over 90% directly from China. Without a swift, coordinated response, the risk is twofold: the weakening of local commerce and the loss of control over the health, safety, or ethical standards of imported goods.

It’s time to move beyond a purely fiscal approach and start thinking in terms of commercial sovereignty. A flat-rate deterrent tax on non-EU parcels, a reduction of the de minimis threshold, and—most importantly—a strengthening of actual customs inspections are all concrete levers to activate. If France acts alone, the impact will be limited.

The urgency calls for a harmonized European response, in line with the scale of the challenge.

Digital commerce can no longer exist in a legal vacuum. Today, Europe must choose: endure or adapt.