France targets Shein and Temu with fast fashion fines
France is first in the European Union to levy item-based fast-fashion fees, with charges reaching €12 per garment and capped at 50% of pre-tax price.
- On Tuesday, France began enforcing fast-fashion penalties targeting e-commerce platforms Shein and Temu to curb a surge in sales of cheap clothing.
- Passed in June, the legislation addresses environmental concerns from overproduction through a fee structure ranging from €0.25 for basic items to €12 for coats, capped at 50% of pre-tax price.
- Refashion, the French association managing collection, will levy charges based on product volume. Commerce Minister Serge Papin told Ouest France the platforms are "false champions of consumer purchasing power."
- China's commerce ministry described the French law as a discriminatory trade barrier potentially violating WTO principles, while Shein's spokesman in France, Quentin Ruffat, warned the penalties would hurt customers.
- The fees compound Shein's difficulties following the end of duty-free access for small parcels in the European Union, while the penalty formula is set to increase significantly from 2030.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Sylvain Waserman, head of the Agency for the Environment and Energy Management, welcomes the decree which entered into force on Tuesday, 1 September, aimed at penalising ephemeral fashion brands.
Starting today, an ecological tax applies in France on ultra-fast fashion. The country intends to curb the growth of Chinese online shops such as Shein, Temu or AliExpress.
Nine euros of penalty on a jeans, two euros on a t-shirt. But a ceiling limits the note to half the price of the garment — and it is he who will decide on the effectiveness of the device.
As of Tuesday, France is imposing additional fees on clothing classified as ultra-fast fashion. The regulations will apply to the cheapest products, primarily offered by Chinese platforms such as Shein and Temu. Depending on the item type and criteria used, the fee will range from 25 cents to several euros.
More than two euros for a t-shirt, plus six for a shirt, the battle is intensifying against ultra-ephemeral fashion. Starting on Tuesday, additional penalties apply on Chinese platforms. For example, for shoes set, the penalty is 50 cents in the first phase and will go up to two euros in 2030. For a jacket, count twelve euros for the moment and 20 in four years. The question is whether this malus will be passed on to consumers. (Conso and trends…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
