-
Federal Express Corporation is beefing up its support for businesses in Asia Pacific as they prepare for the European Union’s (EU) removal of the de minimis duty exemption starting July 1, 2026.
-
The EU duty-free exemption allowed packages valued below €150 to enter the region without paying import duties
-
The new policy will cover about 93% of all e-commerce flows to the EU, according to the European Council
-
In preparation for the new customs requirements and cost implications for cross-border shipments into Europe, FedEx engaged more than 5,000 businesses – including small and medium-sized enterprises and multinationals – across 12 Asia Pacific markets through a series of customer education webinars
-
A survey conducted as part of the webinars show strong awareness of the changes, but there is a notable gap between awareness and readiness
Federal Express Corporation is beefing up its support for businesses in Asia Pacific as they prepare for the European Union’s (EU) removal of the de minimis duty exemption starting July 1, 2026.
The EU duty-free exemption allowed packages valued below €150 to enter the region without paying import duties.
By July 1, goods entering the EU in small consignments and valued at less than €150 will be subject to a fixed €3 customs duty, according to the European Council.
The rate will be applied to all goods entering the EU for which non-EU sellers are registered in the grouping’s import one-stop shop (IOSS) for value-added tax purposes. This covers about 93% of all e-commerce flows to the EU, the EC said.
In preparation for the new customs requirements and cost implications for cross-border shipments into Europe, FedEx engaged more than 5,000 businesses – including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and multinationals – across 12 Asia Pacific markets through a series of customer education webinars.
These webinars provided practical guidance to navigate evolving customs clearance requirements, maintain operational efficiency, and reduce the risk of unexpected costs in an increasingly complex trade environment, FedEx said in a statement.
Over 5,000 customers were engaged from Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and China. Of the total participants of the webinars, held April and May this year, more than 500 survey responses were gathered.
Aware but not quite ready
Among the insights that came up, according to FedEx, was strong awareness of the EU de minimis changes among Asia Pacific businesses, but there is a notable gap between awareness and readiness.
About 59% of businesses report being fully or mostly prepared, while 41% remain at an early stage or unprepared.
The key barriers include: Limited access to clear, actionable guidance (27%); Lack of internal expertise on EU customs regulations (24%); and difficulty keeping pace with evolving rules and timelines (22%).
FedEx said businesses that are not fully prepared for the new product data requirements, identifiers, EU-wide handling fees, and stricter documentation standards may face delays at EU borders.
READ: 85% of Asia Pacific SMEs plan Europe growth–FedEx survey
“As global trade continues to evolve, businesses across Asia Pacific are navigating increasing regulatory complexity while pursuing growth across key markets,” said Salil Chari, FedEx Asia Pacific president.
“At FedEx, we combine deep trade expertise, digital capabilities, and the strength of our global network to help businesses adapt quickly, operate with confidence, and continue growing across Europe and beyond,” she added.
Among the expanded support launched by the global transport and logistics firm are digital systems aligned to the new requirements and a dedicated EU de minimis information page for Asia Pacific customers.
FedEx currently operates 26 weekly flights supporting Asia Pacific to Europe shipments, enabling express deliveries in as short as 48 hours.
READ: FedEx expanding in Clark; facility to more than double in size
