The EU has enforced a new system that ensures VAT is being paid over imported goods.
For some Chinese stores, that essentially blocked off all of the EU because they don't want to raise prices to pay tax for EU customers. The lack of taxes or import fees together with enough stickers and stamps that say "GIFT" are the whole reason many shops have western customers in the first place.
Customs takes forever to clear a Chinese packages now, they're not letting themselves get rushed beyond doing their job. Not every package gets checked, but a lot more do, and drop shippers are not very happy.
It was indeed the EU, it was the end of the low-value goods exemption if you want to search for it.
I avoid shopping from China on principle, but if ordering from Ali Express or similar you shouldn't have any problems. Of course, you pay 25% VAT on your purchases.
It was a big problem for a while before most vendors added VAT because in Sweden they hold the package for ransom against lenalty fees and the VAT, which often means you have to go get the package at a service point instead of having it dropped in your mailbox. Things are better now but that was a disaster for a while.
