We're still raising funds: three euros per international package

This week the European Union has approved a new tariff measure: charge three euros for each international package that arrives in European territory with a value of less than 150 euros. Although not explicitly stated, the focus is clear: the major platforms ofe-commerce Asian brands, like Shein or Temu. The question is inevitable: will this measure really work?

Initially, the tariff acts as a counterweight. These platforms benefit from Chinese government subsidies designed to incentivize exports, allowing them to offer virtually negligible shipping costs, often free for the end consumer. Furthermore, many of their products are priced much more competitively than European ones. The combination of low prices and cheap shipping makes shopping on these platforms particularly attractive. Who hasn't seen, for example, kitchen utensils for just one euro shipped directly from China to their home?

However, it's necessary to focus on the consumer. Will a three-euro surcharge really change their purchasing behavior? Probably not, if you consider the final price. An order that previously cost 20 euros will now cost 23, and it will still be cheaper than buying the same product in Europe. However, a reduction in the number of packages is likely: if each shipment has a fixed cost, it makes sense to group orders and reduce the frequency of deliveries. In that sense, the measure could have a positive impact in terms of sustainability.

However, the initiative appears primarily aimed at raising revenue. It's just another tax that, ultimately, the citizen ends up paying. And this raises another important question: which type of user is bearing this cost? Mostly young people with limited financial resources.