EU decision on additional customs duty

The EU, for all small packages under 150 euroscoming from foreign countries, has decided to impose a 3-euro customs duty as of the year 2026.According to the data from theEuropean Commission, in the year 2024,theIn the year, 91 percent of the 2 billion packagesunder 150 euros came from China.

According to experts, the decision willhavea significant impact as a blow to China'slow-cost e-commerce model. Evaluating the newregulation,Asset Worldwide Express General MDirector Onur Tekin stated that the taxdirectly opens awindow of opportunity that bringsTurkey to the forefront.

"ITHITS CHINA'S BUSINESS MODEL"

The 3-euro flat tax Stating that this will complicate the price-based business model in China ranging between 1 and 5 euros, Tekin said, "This decisionwill slow down China while providing a significant advantageto Turkey, almost like a fast-track.Turkeyhas gainedan advantagewith its speed and supply chain capabilities." will stand out," he stated. Tekin noted that the EU's new tax movestrengthens Turkey in three strategic areas.He pointed out thatshipments from China to the EU took 7-20daysto arrive.He added that this duration would likely change.reminding that deliveries from Turkey can be made in 2-4 days by land and 24-48 hours by air,Tekin stated, "European consumers no longer want cheap but late-arriving products. Speed has become as critical as price," he said. He added that the perception gap has also turned in favor of Turkey.Emphasizing this, Tekin stated, "In the eyes of the EU consumer, Chinese-originproducts raise quality and safety concerns,whileTurkish-originproductsare products are seen as 'near-supply' and more reliable sources. This decision by the EU is not only economic but also strategic. They want to source supplies not from distant Asia, but from nearby countries. Turkey is a natural candidate in this equation, he assessed.

"THOSE WHO PLAY FOR CHEAPNESS LOSE, THOSE WHO PLAY FOR SPEED WIN"

TTurkish firmsissuing critical warnings to, Onur Tekin emphasized that companies should enter a race for speed, not a race for cheapness. Tekin stated, "Companies that play for cheap will lose. The winners will be the fast, transparent, and EU-adjacent working companies." Tekin advised Turkish companies to focus on near-warehouse investments, IOSS, and ETGB sautomation of processes and the digitalization of logistics data analysistaking concrete steps such asrecommended. Tekin concluded his remarks by saying, "With this decision, Europe has offered a clear advantage to Turkey. If companies take the right steps, the next twoyears could be agolden period.".