EU Lawmakers Confront China Over Dangerous Products on Temu and Shein
The European Union has initiated its first parliamentary visit to China in eight years, with lawmakers using the opportunity to challenge Beijing over a surge of potentially dangerous products entering the bloc and insufficient access to the Chinese market. The three-day visit, which commenced on Tuesday, follows closely on the heels of the EU's agreement to overhaul its customs system.
Customs Reform and E-commerce Crackdown
This reform includes stricter measures against e-commerce platforms, predominantly Chinese, which could face significant fines for selling illegal or unsafe goods within the EU. Currently, parcels valued under €150 are exempt from customs duty, a loophole that has fuelled the rapid growth of direct-to-consumer platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. The 27-nation bloc is seeking to coordinate collection of duties and safety checks as it struggles to manage the high volume of low-value e-commerce parcels entering the bloc, with the total reaching 5.8 billion in 2025. The EU estimates more than 90 per cent of them come from China.
Delegation Meetings and Key Concerns
A nine-member delegation, led by Anna Cavazzini, chair of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee, held discussions with senior officials from China's market regulator and members of the National People's Congress in Beijing. The EU delegation raised a broad set of concerns with Chinese lawmakers, including:
- Consumer and product safety
- Forced labour issues
- The protection of minors online
- EU companies' access to the Chinese market
At a meeting with China's State Administration for Market Regulation, the lawmakers relayed their concerns on the high influx of dangerous and non-compliant products coming from China, and discussed areas of interest and cooperation such as the liability of online marketplaces and fostering fair competition.
Platform-Specific Issues and Investigations
The European Commission has specifically stated that Temu is not doing enough to assess the risks of illegal products being sold online and could be in breach of a new digital services law. The EU delegation is expected to meet with representatives from Shein, Alibaba and Temu during their visit. The meeting with Shein will follow an investigation in February over sale of child-like sex dolls on the platform, highlighting ongoing concerns about product safety and regulatory compliance.
Broader Diplomatic Context
Beijing has welcomed the engagement, viewing it as a chance to stabilise bilateral relations. This comes after China's decision last year to lift sanctions on several EU lawmakers, a move widely interpreted as an effort to mitigate escalating trade tensions with the United States. China had blacklisted 10 EU individuals and four entities in 2021, in retaliation for Brussels' sanctions against Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
The visit represents a significant diplomatic effort to address growing tensions between the EU and China over trade practices, with product safety emerging as a central concern alongside broader market access issues. As e-commerce continues to grow rapidly, regulatory coordination between the two economic powers will be crucial for ensuring consumer protection and fair competition in global markets.
