EU considers removing duty exemption that helps Shein and Temu

The European Union is working on a proposal to impose import duties on cheap goods purchased on online platforms outside the bloc, a move that would primarily target Chinese retailers such as Temu, AliExpress and Shein, according to people familiar with the matter.

The EU currently applies a duty-free threshold of €150 ($161) for online purchases for small gifts or personal parcels, but that has allowed a surge in low-value imports from such platforms, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.