For customers of popular purchasing platforms specified as This and AliExpress, hard changes are coming. The Electronic Economy Chamber announced plans to introduce customs duties for consignments of little than EUR 150. specified movement may consequence in a crucial increase in prices and discourage Poles from utilizing these services. What are the consequences? Here are the details.
A purchasing work of little than EUR 150 – what does that mean?
Currently, purchases on platforms specified as AliExpress or Temu are peculiarly attractive to Polish customers, mainly due to no customs duties for consignments up to EUR 150. Thanks to this, many people choose Chinese platforms to buy products cheaper than in European stores.
However, the Chamber of Electronic Economy wants to amend these provisions. Plans abolition of work exemption, which means that any consignment outside the European Union will be subject to duty, regardless of its value. In practice, this means that purchases that are now profitable can become much more expensive.
Why are fresh customs duties planned?
According to the Electronic Economy Chamber, current government favours non-EU retailers who build price advantage European companies. For customers, this means access to cheaper products, but for local entrepreneurs, failure of competitiveness.
Patrycja Sass-Staniszewska, president of the Chamber of Electronic Economy, emphasises:
– Exemption from customs duties on imported goods leads to distortions of competition in the EU and allows retailers outside the Union to build a immense price advantage over European operators. The removal of the customs exemption threshold aims to compensate for and address these irregularities.
Furthermore, there are suspicions that many Chinese sellers deliberately undercut the declared value of shipments to avoid customs duties. The fresh rules are intended to prevent this kind of abuse and to guarantee greater transparency.
How will this affect AliExpress and Temu?
If change comes into force, purchases on Chinese platforms will cease to be so financially advantageous. The price increase resulting from the imposition of the work can make many customers start looking for alternatives in local stores. The imposition of additional customs and taxation charges on consignments will affect not only the final cost of products, but besides the transportation time, which is already long in the case of orders outside the EU.
Platforms specified as AliExpress or Temu may besides lose their popularity if customers quit buying for fear of extra costs. However, it is worth noting that not all products from these services will travel to the same degree – the work will depend on the kind and value of the goods.
What can customers do?
- Plan your buying in advance – if you are utilizing Chinese platforms, it is worth to rethink more buying even before introducing fresh regulations.
- Follow changes in regulations – so far the proposals of the Chamber of Electronic Economy are in the planning stage, but they can enter into force in the coming months.
- Compare prices – fresh regulations can make buying in Polish or European stores more profitable.
What do experts say?
Opinions on the planned changes are split. On the 1 hand, it is stressed that the introduction of customs duties will offset the opportunities of local entrepreneurs. On the another hand, experts inform that this may limit consumers' access to inexpensive products, which will in peculiar affect those with lower incomes.
According to the data presented by “Rzeczpospolita”, the popularity of Chinese purchasing platforms in Poland is increasing year by year. Only in 2023 the number of orders with AliExpress increased by Over 20% compared to the erstwhile year. The introduction of additional fees may hamper this trend.
The planned changes in customs regulations may have a crucial impact on the e-commerce marketplace in Poland. Shopping at AliExpress or Temu, which has been synonymous with savings so far, may lose its attractiveness. It is worth remembering, however, that the plans of the home of Electronic Economy are a proposal which needs further consultation.
This means a time of uncertainty for customers, but besides a chance to better realize how global trade works and the consequences of utilizing platforms outside the EU. Whether fresh regulations come into force, it is worth following the situation and adapting your purchasing habits to changing realities.
Continued here:
No more inexpensive purchases from Temu and AliExpress. The government wants to introduce a fresh tax
