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.