The EU’s new low-value import rules are no longer a future risk. They are a near-term cost event that can materially affect margin, returns, and cash flow for eCommerce brands shipping into Europe.

For finance leaders and supply chain teams outside the EU, the key question is no longer whether the rules will change, but how much they will cost your business. From 1 July 2026, the removal of the €150 exemption will reshape the economics of cross-border B2C sales, especially for brands acting as their own declarant (IOR in the EU terminology). The impact is not limited to duty alone: handling fees, return friction, declaration costs, and classification complexity can quickly turn into six-figure exposure.

A webinar hosted by our partner CB Consulting highlighted a realistic example of a mid-sized fashion brand shipping 5,000 orders per month with a 25% return rate, showing an annual exposure of €813,000. That figure is not an outlier, it is a warning. The most common mistake is assuming the surcharge applies per parcel, when the legal reality is often more granular, based on HS6 lines. That difference alone can double expected costs.

The good news is that most of this exposure is manageable with the right operating model. Three levers matter most: correct classification, forward-stocking strategy, and consolidation of flows. Just as important, the decision must be made using your actual volumes, returns profile, and product mix, not a generic scenario.

For CFOs and Controllers, this is a margin-protection issue. For Supply Chain leaders, it is a design problem: where stock sits, how it moves, and how returns are processed will all affect landed cost. Brands that act now can protect margin, reduce friction, and avoid rushed restructuring later.

About CB Consulting & Management CB Consulting & Management is an operational and strategic advisory firm — not a law firm. All engagements are management consulting mandates: the team works alongside your leadership team and, where needed, coordinates with your legal counsel to ensure execution is both commercially sound and compliant.

Learn more at CB Consulting & Management

About TDR Trade Duty Refund helps eCommerce and international brands recover import duties, unlock duty-free selling advantages, and improve margins across global markets. TDR simplifies customs duty recovery and trade compliance so businesses can save money and sell more competitively worldwide.

Learn more at tradedutyrefund.com