The European Union will impose higher fees on small packages starting next year in an attempt to curb the influx of parcels coming mostly from China.

EU finance ministers agreed on Friday to impose a temporary $3.52 levy per parcel starting in July, before applying permanent custom duties two years later. The move comes amid a boom in packages from Chinese retailers like Shein and Temu, which has rattled European businesses.

Ministers agreed last month to abolish a rule that let goods under $175.90 enter the EU without customs duties.

The new rules won't enter into force until 2028, once a new EU customs data hub is in place. But France led a push to introduce the temporary mechanism ahead of the permanent adoption.

"We want a more level playing field" as these duty-free imports pose a

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