EU aims to accelerate crackdown on cheap Chinese parcels, FT reports

(Reuters) -The European Union has called ​for a bloc-wide ‌handling fee on small packages ordered ‌online from platforms such as Shein, Temu and Alibaba to be imposed in early 2026,⁠ over ‌two years earlier than scheduled, in a ‍bid to crack down on billions of cheap Chinese imports each year,​ the Financial Times reported ‌on Wednesday, citing a letter from trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic to EU finance ministers.

The European Commission urged EU ⁠finance ministers meeting on ​Thursday to agree ​the faster implementation to protect domestic retailers from unfair ‍competition,⁠ the report said.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the ⁠report.

(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan ‌in Bengaluru; Editing ‌by Leslie Adler)