EU Abolishes De Minimis Exemption; Steel Quotas Cut 47%
EU Council Regulation 2026/382 abolished the €150 customs exemption for low-value shipments effective July 1, 2026, replacing it with a €3 flat customs duty per item category — a direct targeting of the Temu/Shein/AliExpress direct-shipping model. The EU simultaneously cut steel import quotas 47% (from ~33M to 18.3M tonnes), doubled penalty duties to 50% through 2031, and introduced "melt and pour
BY FRONTIER DESK · JULY 23, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
EU Council Regulation 2026/382 abolished the €150 customs exemption for low-value shipments effective July 1, 2026, replacing it with a €3 flat customs duty per item category — a direct targeting of the Temu/Shein/AliExpress direct-shipping model. The EU simultaneously cut steel import quotas 47% (from ~33M to 18.3M tonnes), doubled penalty duties to 50% through 2031, and introduced "melt and pour" rules requiring certified origin verification of raw steel. For trade counsel advising e-commerce clients or steel supply chain operators, both changes require immediate classification and tariff engineering review.