German retailers are demanding tariffs on cheap Chinese online trading platforms such as Temu and Shein. "We need tariffs on cheap Chinese imports, following the example of the US," Stefan Genth, CEO of the German Retail Association (HDE), told the news portal t-online on Sunday. Many of the goods sold on the platforms are "simply junk" and shouldn't even be sold within the EU.
Genth continued, it is a clear competitive disadvantage for German retailers that there is no effective liability for such direct imports from third countries. "Under European law, this is not easy, but yes, if necessary, Temu and Shein must be pulled until these platforms prove that they are operating properly." Initial measures adopted by the EU, such as the abolition of the duty-free threshold, are correct, but not yet sufficient.
In the trade conflict with Beijing, US President Donald Trump had imposed significant tariffs on smaller parcel shipments from China since April. This affected shipments with a value of less than $800, which had long been completely exempt from tariffs.
Online retailers founded in China, such as Temu and Shein, lure customers with extremely cheap offers. Both companies are under investigation in Brussels for possible violations of EU consumer protection laws and the rules governing online platforms. In the case of Temu, the EU Commission reached the preliminary conclusion a few days ago that consumers there are highly likely to encounter products that do not comply with consumer protection regulations.
The EU Commission also recently announced a flat fee of two euros on parcels from countries outside the EU sent to private households. German retailers have long been fighting back against Chinese discount retailers. In April, the German Retail Federation (HDE) filed a complaint against Temu with the Federal Cartel Office. While German retailers comply with consumer protection and environmental regulations, they are ignored by their competitors.
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