New EU tariffs on non-EU goods take effect

New EU tariff rules that apply to all purchases from outside the bloc, regardless of price, came into force today, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

The change means consumers must now pay duty on items such as clothing, sunglasses, and electronics ordered from non-EU platforms like Temu and Shein.

Benjamin Philip, founder and owner of Aalborg-based clothing brand Teeshoppen, called the adjustment reasonable but said it would not significantly alter competition. He noted that EU-based businesses already face costs like VAT, duties, wages, and product responsibility requirements that non-EU sellers avoid by operating under Chinese registrations.

Under the new rules, each product type in a shipment incurs a €3 tariff—about 22 Danish kroner—rather than per package. A shipment with a blouse, a charging cable, and socks would be charged three times, while three blouses would be charged once.

Philip argued that true fairness in competition would require aligning product standards and liability rules. He added that the tariff, while a step, would not deter consumers given the low base prices on such platforms.