Is cross-border e-commerce experiencing another 'cold wave'? Japan considers imposing taxes on imported small parcels

Friends of 36Kr

·May 20, 2025 19:27

Japan plans to adjust cross-border e-commerce tax exemption policy, with the US and Europe following suit and affecting Shein and Temu

① According to the Japanese Cabinet Office, a government tax expert group discussed last week the issues with the current tax exemption policy for small inbound parcels;

② Currently, Japan exempts imported goods under 10000 yen (approximately 500 RMB) from tariffs and consumption taxes.

It is reported that Japan is considering reviewing its tax-free policies, including for small packages, to join other governments around the world, including the Trump administration, in strengthening the scrutiny of tax-free channels used in cross-border e-commerce.

According to the Japanese Cabinet Office, a government tax expert group discussed last week the issues with the current tax exemption policy for small inbound parcels. They discussed the issue of fair competition and whether this channel could become a potential hazard for illegal drugs and counterfeit goods to flow into Japan.

Starting from next year, the Japanese Ministry of Finance will revise its tax system and may consider imposing consumption tax on small imported goods. According to Japan's tax reform plan, detailed new tax policies are expected to be formulated by 2026.

Analysts point out that if Japan modifies its tax-free policy for small packages, small packages containing products purchased from Shein and Temu may be subject to Japan's consumption tax - currently at a rate of 10%.

Currently, Japan exempts imported goods under 10000 yen (approximately 500 RMB) from tariffs and consumption taxes. It is reported that another group established by the Japanese Ministry of Finance is also studying similar issues.

Japanese Finance Minister Katsuyuki Kato told reporters on Tuesday, "No decision has been made yet regarding the review of exemptions. However, we will continue to consider this issue while paying attention to overseas cases and their impact

Japan is the fourth largest e-commerce market in the world. According to data from the Japanese Ministry of Finance, the import volume of small packages under 10000 yen was approximately 169.66 million pieces last year, with an import value of 425.8 billion yen. This number has increased by about five times in the past five years.

Behind a large number of small-scale imported goods, Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms have once again become the "main force", especially the comprehensive cross-border e-commerce platform Temu and the fast fashion giant Shein.

Could multiple countries potentially take action on small packages?

On May 2nd local time, the United States officially terminated its policy of exempting small packages from China with a value not exceeding $800 from tariffs. This policy quickly caused ripples and had a chain reaction on local consumers and small and medium-sized business owners in the United States.

The cancellation of small parcel tariff exemptions by the United States has forced Shein and Temu to raise some product prices or require American consumers to pay import fees that may be higher than their purchase price.

In addition to the United States and Japan, some European countries are also considering adjusting their duty-free policies for small packages.

It is reported that the European Union proposed earlier to cancel the tax-free policy for packages below 150 euros around 2027 to 2028. Subsequently, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves also announced a review of the country's small parcel tax exemption rules.

France has also proposed imposing fees on small packages from discount retailers as a temporary measure before the launch of large-scale reforms in Europe.

This article is from Cailian News Agency, written by Xiaoxiang, and published by 36Kr with authorization.

The viewpoint of this article only represents the author himself, and the 36Kr platform only provides information storage space services.

跨境电商又遇“寒流”？日本考虑对进口小额包裹征税