The EU has introduced a €3 customs duty on low-value parcels entering the EU – a first response to the enormous growth of direct e-commerce imports, particularly from China.
EFTTA welcomes the move, but believes much more needs to be done to create a fair market for the European tackle trade.
Almost 5.9 billion parcels worth less than €150 entered the EU in 2025, with more than 90% originating in China. For European manufacturers, distributors and retailers, the concern goes far beyond the price of these imports.
Same market, same rules
European tackle businesses invest heavily in complying with EU requirements covering product safety, environmental responsibility, intellectual property, VAT, customs and consumer protection.
They also contribute to packaging and recycling schemes, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems and, where applicable, battery recycling.
Companies selling directly into the same European market should be subject to – and effectively controlled against – the same rules.
The new €3 duty is a welcome first step, but EFTTA expects its practical impact to be limited. Stronger customs and market surveillance, better enforcement and effective controls on products sold through online marketplaces remain essential.
The objective is simple: competition should be based on price, innovation and quality – not on avoiding rules and costs that European businesses are required to meet.
An issue already high on EFTTA’s agenda
The rapid growth of low-value imports has already been a focus for EFTTA for some time. At the EFTTA Angling Summit 2025 in Berlin, Deloitte Partner Marko Uhl addressed the rapid growth of low-value imports and the resulting unfair competition for EU businesses. His keynote also looked ahead to EU customs reforms, including the removal of the €150 customs duty exemption and measures to create a more level playing field.
Some of those measures are now becoming reality.
Towards a Fair Tackle Market
EFTTA will continue pushing for a Fair Tackle Market in which the same rules apply to everyone selling products to European consumers – irrespective of where the seller is based or which sales channel is used.
The €3 duty is progress, but it does not solve the wider problem. Effective enforcement of existing EU rules remains essential to ensure that European businesses can compete on equal terms.
In an extensive article in Angling International, Rob Carter looks at the scale of the problem, the impact of the new €3 duty and EFTTA’s proposals for stronger enforcement and a fairer European market.
➡️ Read the full article in Angling International:
“EFTTA: EU’s €3 import levy is ‘a start’ but much more is needed”
The discussion continues at the Angling Summit 2026
The discussion will continue at the EFTTA Angling Summit on 27 November 2026 in Berlin. Together with specialists, industry representatives and other stakeholders, we will take a closer look at the latest EU measures, what they mean for the tackle trade and what still needs to be done to achieve fair competition.
Be part of the discussion – more information on the Angling Summit 2026 will follow soon.
