BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - European Union finance

ministers agreed on Friday to set a 3 euro ($3.52) customs duty

on low-value parcels arriving in the bloc, part of efforts to

crack down on cheap Chinese e-commerce imports such as from

online retailers Shein and Temu.

The duty will apply from July 1, 2026, and will be in place

until a permanent solution is found to eliminate the "de

minimis" duties exemption for online purchases below 150 euros,

the EU's Council of its 27 governments said in a statement.

The bloc was due to remove the exemption in 2028 as part of

an overhaul of its customs system, but pressure to act faster

has grown amid concerns about Chinese goods being dumped in

Europe.

"This temporary measure responds to the fact that such

parcels currently enter the EU duty free, leading to unfair

competition for EU sellers, health and safety risks for

consumers, high levels of fraud and environmental concerns," the

Council said.

Online platforms like Shein, Temu, AliExpress

and Amazon Haul send clothes, accessories and

gadgets from Chinese factories directly to shoppers at

rock-bottom prices.

Due to the customs waiver, the number of low-value

e-commerce packages arriving in the bloc doubled last year to

4.6 billion, over 90% of them from China. Imports this year are

set to be even higher.

The EU is also considering a separate handling fee, which

the European Commission has proposed should be set at 2 euros

per parcel. It is not clear when it would be imposed.

($1 = 0.8531 euros)