The European Commission proposes the removal of the 'de minimis' exemption for goods under 150 euros in 2026, affecting imports from China and online platforms.

In 2023, the European Commission proposed the elimination of the 'de minimis' exemption for goods valued under 150 euros, initially scheduled for 2028, but now it is desired to implement it in 2026. This measure aims to protect the competitiveness of businesses in the 27 member states, considering the increase in the number of low-value parcels, most of which come from China. The United States has already abandoned the 'de minimis' policy, raising concerns that cheap imports from China could be redirected to Europe.

Additionally, some member countries, such as Romania and Italy, intend to introduce national taxes on low-value parcels. In Moldova, there is discussion about the possibility of taxing purchases from China, which could affect local consumers. Deputy Radu Marian highlighted the negative impact of these imports on local producers and suggested that the new government could address this issue. Online shopping from abroad has significantly increased in Moldova, with an estimated three million postal shipments in 2024, most of them from China.