Models walk the catwalk during the Urban Ritual fashion show organized by Chinese fashion giant Shein in Milan, Italy on October 16, 2025. PHOTO: Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP / Profimedia
Italy is working on a tax on low-value postal parcels from non-European countries, senior politicians said, as part of measures to protect the fashion industry from low-priced foreign imports, mainly from China, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
The measure targets online platforms such as Shein and Temu.
“Our measures will take effect by the end of this year,” Industry Minister Adolfo Urso told reporters.
Italy's ruling parties plan to impose a tax on parcels worth less than 150 euros ($175), under a proposal being discussed at the European Union level, other politicians said.
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti has called for the faster introduction of the wider EU tax, saying in a statement that it should take effect in 2026, rather than 2028 as currently planned.
“We need strong and fast European rules to stop non-European aggression invading our market with cheap and unregulated products,” Giorgetti said.
EU customs handled around 4.6 billion low-value parcels bought online in 2024, 91% of which came from China, double the figure in 2023.
It is expected that the measure by the authorities in Rome will be formalized in the coming weeks as an amendment to the budget for next year.
The Italian Fashion Federation welcomed it, calling the proposal a step towards limiting ultra-fast fashion.
“We appreciate the government's intention to address in this budget law the impact on economic and environmental sustainability generated by ultra-fast fashion, which also drains significant resources from our economy and the state treasury,” Federazione Moda Italia-Confcommercio said in a press release.
