Government Targets Shein and Temu with New E-Commerce Import Duties
Published 17.12.2025 18:34
As Moldova’s postal market witnesses an unprecedented surge in parcel volume, the introduction of new taxes on international online shipments looms imminent. The current tax-exempt status is projected to conclude in the forthcoming year, primarily in response to the escalating influx of goods from Chinese e-commerce platforms.
The government has declared that import duties for these parcels will be enacted beginning in 2024. Although specific rates are still under consideration, this initiative follows a significant transformation in trade dynamics, highlighted by Moldova receiving 10.9 million international parcels last year—an astonishing 45% increase from the previous year’s tally of 7.5 million. A vast proportion of these shipments originates in China.
Stas Madan, Program Director at the “Expert-Grup” Independent Analytical Center, elucidated, “China is reorienting its market focus away from the US, inundating other regions, Moldova included.”
He noted that the proliferation of online platforms has reached a critical juncture, with delivery vans densely packed with international orders becoming ubiquitous, even in remote villages across Moldova.
In response to the mounting demand, the logistics landscape is evolving. Moldova now boasts a network of 1,250 postal units.
While the state-owned Poșta Moldovei remains the predominant entity, the number of private postal service providers has doubled over the past year, resulting in 19 active competitors vying within the market.
On the consumer front, Madan anticipates that the new duty may resemble Romania’s model, applying a flat tax of approximately five euros (25 RON) per parcel.
Consumer advocacy representatives caution that this tax could notably alter shopping behaviors. Mihaela Pascal, Executive Director at the European Consumer Center in Moldova, posits that shoppers may increasingly gravitate towards local platforms or brick-and-mortar establishments in light of the additional costs.
Officials are also emphasizing safety considerations. Tatiana Frunză from the State Inspectorate for Non-Food Product Protection warned that the heightened volume of imports complicates security screenings.
“We strongly advise against purchasing children’s products or intimate apparel from these unregulated platforms, as the chemical treatments involved in manufacturing remain unknown and could pose risks,” Frunză advised.
This regulatory development aligns Moldova with broader European trends. On December 12, EU Finance Ministers reached a consensus to introduce a three-euro customs duty on parcels valued under 150 euros, effective July 2026.
This regulation will specifically target major players such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, which collectively comprise 91% of all low-value EU imports in 2024.
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu confirmed that the definitive tax structure will be unveiled upon the finalization of the regulatory framework. Finance Minister Andrian Gavriliță has indicated a proposed implementation date of July 1 for these new measures.
Source link: Radiomoldova.md.
