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Cheap Online Purchases in the Canary Islands to Double in Cost Due to New Tariffs

The Canary Islands Government is considering eliminating the IGIC exemption for purchases under 150 euros due to new EU customs duties.

Generic image of small, low-cost items such as reusable bottles and costume jewelry.
IA

Generic image of small, low-cost items such as reusable bottles and costume jewelry.

Starting in July, low-cost online purchases from Asian platforms for the Canary Islands will double in price due to new EU tariffs and fees.

The acquisition of inexpensive items through e-commerce platforms like Shein, Temu, or Aliexpress, which has been easy and cheap for Canary Islands consumers, will experience a significant price increase. New fiscal modifications approved by the European Union (EU) will impose a tariff and a customs processing fee on orders under 150 euros, potentially doubling the final cost of these products in the Archipelago.
From July, each order under 150 euros will incur a minimum tariff of three euros. This amount will be joined, likely in November, by a customs management fee imposed by Brussels, adding at least two extra euros. This means an item costing three euros could end up costing over eight, with the fees exceeding the product's value.
Historically, purchases under 150 euros from outside the EU were not subject to EU taxes or tariffs, and since 2017, they did not require customs clearance to expedite the process. However, the EU now aims to discourage such purchases due to their environmental impact and effect on local commerce, mandating that all packages must pass through customs.
Additionally, the Canary Islands had an exemption from the General Indirect Canary Tax (IGIC) for these low-value purchases. Given the growth of e-commerce and its impact on local businesses, the Canary Islands Government is considering abolishing this exemption. Finance Minister Matilde Asián questioned the rationale for maintaining it if packages must now go through customs without exemption, which would add the applicable IGIC rate to the final product cost.
The Canary Islands government expresses concern about how these fiscal changes will affect the development of online commerce in the islands, as logistical complexity may deter companies. The regional administration confirms that the tariff will be applied and is studying how to adapt the Canary Tax Agency, including the potential abolition of the IGIC exemption.
These fiscal changes, which will be provisional until 2028, aim to redefine trade relations with third-country operators. While they may pose a threat to online commerce in the Canary Islands, local businesses hope they will curb impulsive purchases and boost domestic consumption.

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