With Chinese discount fashion brands like Shein and Temu rapidly expanding into the European market, an average of 145 small packages are being shipped every second, creating significant competitive pressure on local merchants. The French Treasury announced that it will implement specific measures starting from the 29th to address the inundation of Chinese packages in the local market.

According to the European Commission, over 4.6 billion small packages are expected to enter the European market in 2024, with 91% coming from China. The Ministry of Justice and Economy reported that Shein, Temu, and Amazon together account for a quarter of France’s online fashion sales.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire stated that the quantity has quadrupled since 2022 and doubled compared to 2023. Since packages under 150 euros are exempt from tariffs, he noted that this creates intense competition for local businesses, and the safety and quality of these packages may not meet European standards.

In response to this challenge, the French government plans to review the tariff exemption for small packages and enhance platform regulation to prevent the entry of non-compliant products. Furthermore, the EU is also considering imposing handling fees on import packages.