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ROME – A bold move by the Italian government to curb the influx of low-cost Chinese e-commerce goods has triggered an unintended crisis for the nation’s logistics sector. Since the implementation of a new "parcel tax" on January 1, imports of low-value packages have plummeted by 36%, as retailers bypass Italian ports in favor of more tax-friendly European neighbors.
The Policy: Targeting the "Shein & Temu" Wave
In an effort to level the playing field for domestic retailers and bolster public coffers, Italy introduced a mandatory levy of €2 (approx. $2.15) on all parcels originating from outside the European Union with a value below €150.
The primary targets were Chinese e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein, whose business models rely on shipping millions of small, low-cost items directly to consumers. Previously, these parcels often escaped significant taxation due to "de minimis" exemptions designed for personal mail.
The "U-Turn" Effect: Goods Still Arriving, Just Not via Italy
Data released by the Italian Customs Agency for the period of January 1 to 20 reveals a stark reality: direct imports from outside the EU have dropped by more than a third compared to the same period last year. However, this does not mean Italians have stopped shopping.
According to Confetra, the Italian General Confederation of Transport and Logistics, the goods are simply taking a detour.
"Products that used to land at our airports are now being diverted to hubs like Amsterdam or Budapest," said Andrea Cappa, Secretary General of Confetra. "Once they clear customs in those countries—tax-free—they enter Italy via trucks under EU free-movement rules."
Under current European Union regulations, once a good is cleared for entry in any member state, it can circulate throughout the entire bloc without further inspections or duties. By choosing entry points that have not yet implemented the per-parcel fee, logistics firms are successfully circumventing Italy's domestic policy.
Logistics Industry in "Freefall"
The shift has sparked a fierce backlash from Italian infrastructure operators. Assaeroporti, the association representing Italian airport management companies, reports that flight paths are being rerouted away from Italian soil, leading to a massive loss in handling fees, storage revenue, and jobs.
"The entire Italian logistics industry is losing work," warned Valentina Menin, Secretary General of Assaeroporti. "We are seeing a flight of business to other European gateways that are more than happy to absorb the volume while we wait for a unified EU response."
A Timing Mismatch
The core of the issue lies in a regulatory gap. While the European Union has reached a consensus to implement a bloc-wide €3 fee on low-value parcels to address the "China loophole," that policy is not scheduled to take effect until July 2026.
Italy’s decision to move early—acting six months ahead of the collective mandate—has created a "tax island" effect. Analysts suggest that while the intention was to protect the economy, the lack of coordination with neighboring states has penalized Italian workers rather than the Chinese exporters.
Looking Ahead
The Italian government is now facing mounting pressure from the transport lobby to either subsidize the losses or suspend the tax until the EU-wide mandate levels the playing field this summer.
As the Financial Times noted in its analysis, Italy’s experiment serves as a cautionary tale for any single EU nation attempting to unilaterally regulate global trade flows within a borderless internal market. For now, the "Shein and Temu" packages continue to arrive at Italian doorsteps—they just have a few more miles on the odometer and a different airport stamp on the box.
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