Headlines
Italy plans levy on low-value parcels to protect fashion industry
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 12, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 12, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Italy plans a levy on low-value parcels from non-EU countries to protect its fashion industry, targeting online platforms like Shein and Temu.
ROME (Reuters) -Italy is working to adopt a tax on low-value postal packages from non-European countries, politicians said, as part of measures to protect its fashion industry from low-cost foreign imports mostly from China.
The move, aimed at avoiding unfair competition in the market for what is one of Italy's key industries, targets online platforms such as Shein and Temu among others.
Italy's ruling parties plan to apply a levy to consignments worth less than 150 euros ($175), broadly in line with a proposal being discussed at European Union level, the politicians said.
The measure is expected to be formalised as an amendment to next year's budget in the coming weeks.
EU customs authorities handled around 4.6 billion low-value packages bought online in 2024, 91% of them coming from China and double the 2023 figure.
($1 = 0.8575 euros)
(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte, editing by Ed Osmond)
A levy is a legal seizure of property to satisfy a debt. In this context, it refers to a tax imposed on low-value parcels to protect local industries.
The fashion industry encompasses the design, manufacturing, marketing, and retailing of clothing, footwear, accessories, and related products.
Low-value parcels are shipments valued below a certain threshold, in this case, 150 euros, often subject to different customs regulations.
Unfair competition refers to practices that cause economic harm to businesses, such as pricing products below market value to gain an advantage.
The European Union facilitates discussions and proposals regarding taxation policies among member states to ensure fair competition and economic stability.
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