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The European Union is taking steps to clamp down on the surge of low-quality Chinese imports flooding its markets. According to sources speaking to the Financial Times, the EU plans to impose tariffs on cheap products from platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress.
The Commission aims to scrap the current €150 price threshold for duty-free imports by the end of the month. This proposal, long under consideration, now faces a push for a swift vote to curb the influx of inexpensive Chinese goods.
However, achieving unanimous support among EU states may prove challenging due to concerns about additional strain on customs authorities. Last year alone, an estimated 2.3 billion items below the €150 threshold entered the EU, with e-commerce imports doubling to 350,000 items in April, averaging two deliveries per household.
Meanwhile, the Commission is mulling over requiring major platforms to pay VAT online regardless of product value. Although EU companies have been subject to VAT on incoming packages since 2021, products entering the EU are currently exempt.
Amid rising safety concerns, reports show a 50% increase in unsafe Chinese products from 2022 to 2023, totaling over 3,400 items. Critical sectors affected include cosmetics, toys, electrical appliances, and clothing. The European toy industry has highlighted instances where toys from Chinese retailers failed to meet EU safety standards, posing serious risks to children.
Responding to criticism, Temu clarified that none of the flagged products are now available on its EU platform, stressing enhanced safety measures. Christel Delberg of EuroCommerce underscored the need for robust enforcement of existing laws to ensure consumer safety.
The EU's forthcoming measures signal its determination to protect consumers from substandard imports while navigating diplomatic complexities with China.
[With information from Kathimerini.gr]
