Canada Post has announced the suspension of service to certain European Union countries due to new customs regulations for low-value shipments. The postal service stated on its website that parcels bound for twelve countries, including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain, will not be accepted until further notice. However, Canada Post will continue to receive shipments for other EU destinations where Delivered Duties Unpaid is feasible, such as Poland, Latvia, and Sweden. Efforts are ongoing to implement compliant solutions in the affected markets.
The European Union introduced a three-euro customs duty on parcels valued at 150 euros or less from outside the bloc starting Wednesday. Previously, these low-value packages were duty-free. The EU justified the new rule by stating that it was originally intended for occasional online purchases and no longer aligns with current circumstances. In 2025, the EU received 5.9 billion low-value packages, accounting for 97% of all imported items for the bloc. The EU emphasized that many parcels are undervalued or inaccurately declared to evade customs duties, giving non-EU sellers an unfair advantage over businesses within the EU.
According to the EU, the new measure aims to promote fair competition for EU businesses, enhance consumer protection, combat customs fraud, and address environmental concerns related to mass shipping. The EU clarified that the new customs duty is temporary, and as of July 1, 2028, imports will be taxed based on the product’s value, origin, and tariff classification. The United States made a similar adjustment last August by eliminating the long-standing de minimis exemption that allowed packages under $800 to enter the country without additional fees.
The move was made to prevent illegal drugs from entering the U.S. undetected through low-value packages that bypassed thorough inspection by customs officials. Canada also has its own low-value package exemption for customs duties on shipments from Mexico and the U.S. valued at $150 or lower.
