The German retail association, the Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE), is calling for stricter measures against Chinese online marketplaces such as Temu and Shein. Stefan Genth, CEO of the HDE, argues that current practices are creating unfair competition and flooding the German market with potentially substandard goods.
Genth, in an interview with the news portal T-Online, emphasized the significant price pressure stemming from these imports, citing the daily arrival of approximately 400,000 packages from China. He highlighted concerns regarding the quality of some of these products, echoing criticisms previously raised by consumer organizations and Stiftung Warentest.
A core point of contention centers on the lack of effective liability for goods directly imported from third-party countries. Genth argues that this creates an uneven playing field for German retailers, who adhere to stringent standards and are legally accountable for their products.
The HDE CEO suggested the potential need to restrict the operations of platforms like Temu and Shein until they can demonstrably comply with regulatory standards. He acknowledged the legal complexity of such a step within European law but suggested it might be necessary. He welcomed the recent decision to eliminate the EU’s tariff-free allowance but urged for accelerated implementation, proposing a timeline of 2026 rather than the currently planned 2028.
Genth pointed to the United States as an example, noting that the introduction of processing fees and the removal of the tariff-free allowance led to the withdrawal of the Temu app from the U.S. market. He believes a similar approach could be part of the solution in Europe.
Beyond stricter regulations, Genth stressed the need for a fully digitized customs process. He advocated for a system where every package is registered with a unique identification number, mirroring the system already in place for exports to China, to enable more targeted customs controls.