2€ goods (obviously)
+ 0.12€ duty HS 76151010 aluminum-based kitchen household items
+ 0.38€ import VAT
+ 12.50€ processing fee
=> price of 14.94€ and I make 0 profit
The problem in my opinion is not that Temu is paying too low an import tax rate, the problem is that Temu is for many parcels completely circumventing the customs system, thereby incurring costs but not paying their fare share.
Now I could try to import a 1m^3 box with 1000 wine openers, in which case the economics get better:
2000€ goods (obviously)
+ 120€ duty
+ 38€ VAT
+ 45€ processing fee
=> imported price of 2.20€ each
But now I need to warehouse those 1000 items in Germany and re-package them into local parcels for each customer
+2€ packaging material
+4€ postage for local parcel
=> now I can sell at 8.20€ and if I have 0 returns, 0 warranty cases and 0 issues, I'll barely break even.
Calculating in that I might have to deal with 10% returns, I need to charge 9€ per piece. And here's the kicker: If Temu would legally pay customs and deal with warranty and returns accoring to German law, they, too, would arrive at a similar price.
=> The Temu price only works because they deliberately break the law.