Overview

• Handelsverband Deutschland has formally called for US-style duties on Temu and Shein to protect German merchants from low-cost Chinese competition.
• Stefan Genth warned that many products sold on the platforms fail to meet EU consumer safety standards and would be illegal to market in the bloc.
• In April the HDE filed a competition complaint against Temu with Germany’s Bundeskartellamt, citing unfair liability exemptions for third-country imports.
• The EU Commission’s preliminary investigation found a high likelihood of non-compliant goods on Temu, prompting probes into both platforms’ adherence to consumer rules.
• Brussels has proposed a flat €2 levy on low-value parcels from outside the EU to bolster customs checks and fund stronger import and safety enforcement.