Vareya
US brands

Shipping to the EU from the US: what the parcel levy changes

What US brands selling into Europe need to know about the EU parcel levy, and why EU stock is becoming the standard answer.

The transatlantic route just got more expensive

Since 1 July 2026, every small parcel entering the EU from outside it carries a levy of 3 euro per product category. For a US brand shipping single parcels to European customers, that is a new cost on top of the existing transatlantic freight.

The levy is aimed at the flow of goods from Asia, but it applies to every parcel entering the EU from outside — including yours, if you ship from a US warehouse.

The alternative that is becoming the standard

Stock held inside the EU does not cross that border at parcel level. Orders ship from the warehouse to the customer on a domestic or intra-EU route.

That is why platforms operating from outside Europe are moving stock in. Shein is reported to be opening a large logistics centre in Poland specifically to ship from inside the EU.

For US brands, the same pattern applies: one inbound leg to a European warehouse, then local fulfilment for every European order.

What Vareya offers US brands

Vareya fulfils ecommerce orders from a warehouse in Breda, the Netherlands, shipping across Europe and beyond. Shopify integration is available, and Vareya uses ShipHero as its warehouse management system, fully integrated with Shopify.

Customs clearance support is available for shipments into and out of Europe, so the inbound leg from the US is handled as part of the process.

Vareya's shipping system can automatically select an appropriate carrier for each shipment, based on destination and parcel characteristics. PostNL is Vareya's main carrier for shipments within the Netherlands, with DHL, Asendia, FedEx and Royal Mail in the carrier network for other routes.

Sources

  1. 1.BNR Nieuwsradio — EU-heffing op Chinese pakketjes raakt Shein, Temu en AliExpress hard

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