Fair Customs — For Proportionate Customs Duties

Why this initiative?

Since 1 July 2026, the new European mechanism applying to small imported parcels can have a particularly significant impact when an order contains several categories of very low-value items.

To assess this effect in practice, we deliberately created a test basket containing 11 different types of common electronic components: resistors, capacitors, transistors, LEDs, a sensor, push buttons and small electronic modules.

The amount displayed at checkout was:

The additional amount displayed therefore represents more than 342% of the original value of the goods.

We are not opposed to the principle of taxation

Taxing imported goods can be legitimate. The objectives of combating fraud, ensuring product compliance, creating fairer conditions between European sellers and sellers established outside the European Union, and better managing the massive flow of small parcels are understandable.

The issue we want to highlight is different: a flat-rate duty can become disproportionate when the value of the item concerned is itself very low.

The test basket

The basket was deliberately composed of several different product categories in order to test a case in which the flat-rate mechanism has a particularly significant impact. This methodology is intentional and transparent.

Nevertheless, the contents of the basket are entirely plausible for a maker, repairer or electronics enthusiast wishing to replenish their stock of components.

Why makers and repairers are particularly affected

Resistors, capacitors, transistors, sensors, connectors, switches and small modules are used every day to repair, learn, experiment and prototype.

Makers, electronics enthusiasts, students, teachers, fab labs, Repair Cafés and small workshops may need many different components, often in very small quantities.

For some components, there is not always an easily accessible European retail alternative offering the same parts, in the same quantities and at comparable prices.

What we propose

We are not calling for the customs duty to be abolished.

We are asking for a proportionality mechanism to be considered, in order to prevent the accumulation of flat-rate duties from reaching several times the value of the goods themselves.

• Cap the total amount of duties relative to the value of the shipment.
• Introduce a single flat-rate duty for very low-value purchases.
• Group certain related product families together.
• Or introduce any other mechanism that ensures proportionate taxation.

Taxation, yes. Duties worth several times the value of the goods, no.