Until 2021, millions of packages from large e-commerce platforms arrived in Europe without having to pay VAT if their cost was less than 22 euros. This situation created an unfair competitive advantage over local businesses. Since then, all imports have been subject to VAT payment.
Now, the European Commission wants to go further with new proposals. One of the measures includes the introduction of a 2-euro processing fee for each shipment arriving in the European Union. Furthermore, it is proposed to abolish the 150-euro customs exemption for small value packages, with the aim of preventing sellers from artificially dividing orders to evade taxes.
These initiatives also seek to strengthen control over products that are often manufactured under unsustainable conditions, promoting intensive consumption in transport, waste, and emissions, or with poor labor practices. Current platforms reduce costs by avoiding quality controls and guarantees required of European manufacturers, which leads to unfair competition against local businesses, which usually offer higher quality and adequate after-sales service.
“"The motivation for these regulations has much to do with the protection of our lifestyle and with safeguarding the environment, which blend well with rigorous regulation and fair collection."
These platforms often fail to provide adequate consumer information and have marketed products without warning of their risks to minors or through aggressive advertising tactics. The Commission will have no trouble finding good proposals for allocating the revenue obtained from these fees, nor watchdogs to oversee their use. For example, Pimec Tarragona suggests that the funds be used to finance the digitalization of local commerce, an idea considered excellent.
However, it will be necessary to ensure that these measures do not limit consumer freedom to choose where and how to buy, avoiding excessive restrictions that could reduce access to more competitive offers or a wider range of products.
