EU Nations Push Brussels to Toughen Action Against Shein, Temu and Other E-Commerce Giants
Eight European countries, led by France, have urged the European Commission to step up its collective efforts against what they describe as the “systemic risks” posed by major third-country e-commerce platforms, including Shein. In a joint letter sent to Brussels on Monday, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Hungary and Poland called for stronger mobilisation to counter unfair competition and protect European consumers and businesses.
The appeal comes as the European Commission intensifies scrutiny of Shein, having already issued requests for information that could lead to a formal investigation. France’s commerce minister, Serge Papin, who spearheaded the initiative, stressed that any probe should be accompanied by provisional measures to curb the risks posed by Shein and similar platforms. He also demanded tougher sanctions in the ongoing proceedings targeting Temu and AliExpress, pointing out that past national-level attempts—such as France’s effort to suspend Shein—have fallen short.
In their letter, the signatory nations pressed for strict enforcement of the Digital Services Act, enhanced customs and consumer protection checks, and a more active role for the Commission in reviewing and strengthening platform regulations. They also advocated for a European tax on low-value parcels to address unfair commercial practices—an initiative already being pursued by France. EU finance ministers have approved removing customs duty exemptions on small imported parcels, a change that could be implemented as soon as early 2026.
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