- From 1. 7. 2028 a new customs warehouse for distance sales
- The goods from it will have a lower fee than 2 € per item
- The exact amount of the fee has not been set yet by the Commission
- Classic EU warehouses of AliExpress are not affected by the fee
After a flat-rate customs duty of 3 € and a new handling fee of 2 € per item, a message from Brussels is also coming that will please shoppers buying from China. The EU’s new Customs Code introduces, from 1 July 2028, a new type of customs warehouse intended for distance selling. The goods sold from it to customers will have a lower handling fee than ordinary parcels shipped directly from China. That gives Chinese platforms a reason to import goods into Europe in bulk, which can mean faster delivery and more offers from EU warehouses.
What is a customs warehouse for distance selling
A new type of warehouse is introduced by Article 145 of Regulation (EU) 2026/2108, which amends the Union Customs Code. The seller brings goods from China into it in bulk shipments and stores them under customs supervision, while customs duty and fees are handled only when a specific item is ordered by the customer. According to the guidance, the goods must be delivered in such quantities and packaging that customs officers can properly inspect them.
The Commission explains the lower fee by saying that checking one large shipment stored in a warehouse is much easier and cheaper for customs than screening millions of small parcels that arrive by post today. The customs authorities’ saved costs are then expected to be reflected in the lower fee paid by the seller—and ultimately also by the customer.
How much the lower fee will cost, we don’t know yet
The exact amount has not been set by the European Commission yet. The delegated regulation C(2026)6694 of 21 September 2026 does specify a standard fee of 2 € per item, but it explicitly states that it does not determine the reduced fee amount yet. Customs authorities’ costs and the volume of imported goods may change up to 2028. Fees are expected to be reviewed regularly, and the Commission will publish a report on actual costs every two years.
On the same day, 1 July 2028, the temporary flat-rate customs duty of 3 € per item is also set to end, and instead the standard customs tariffs will be paid according to the type of goods. According to an analysis by KPMG, this applies only if the Commission confirms by 1 December 2027 that the EU’s new Customs Data Centre will be operational. Otherwise, the flat-rate duty could be extended. From 1 July 2028, shipment data will have to be sent to this data centre also by large platforms.
Who will be able to use the warehouses
Not every merchant will benefit. Only importers for distance selling will be able to use the warehouse: platforms and sellers that collect VAT through the IOSS system and obtain the status Trust & Check. You can apply for it starting from 21 September 2027, and the condition is that the applicant uses IOSS for at least two years. Large platforms such as AliExpress, Temu, and Shein will likely meet these requirements, but smaller sellers from China may remain with the more expensive way of shipping.
That way, goods from China could increasingly arrive in Slovakia from warehouses in Europe, and delivery could take just a few days instead of several weeks. Sellers that today ship every parcel separately will have a financial incentive to move their inventory closer to customers.
Watch out for the difference between a customs warehouse and an EU warehouse
But today’s regular customs warehouses shouldn’t be confused with this new type. Goods stored in a customs warehouse and not yet released for free circulation are considered an import from China when sold to a customer. According to the European Commission guidance, customs duty of €3 and a new fee of €2 already apply to them today.
This fee doesn’t apply to typical EU warehouses of AliExpress and other shops where the goods have already been cleared and released for free circulation, so buying from them stays the most cost-effective option. More about how much extra will be added to your order from China under the new rules, we covered in the article about the €2 handling fee.
Our tricks to save on customs duty today
Until 2028, it’s still a long way off, but you don’t have to pay customs duty and the new fee even now. AliExpress covers customs duty out of its own pocket for some orders, and you can get it back too—together with free shipping—just like in the trick below. And if you’re looking for items that ship straight from EU warehouses with neither customs duty nor the fee, in the second guide you’ll find how to filter them on AliExpress in just a few seconds.
And you?
We want to know whether the warehouses in Europe and the lower fee will convince you to buy more from China. Vote in the poll and tell us in the comments where you order from most often today.
Will you buy more from China when the goods ship from warehouses in the EU?
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