‘Enough with Fast Fashion’: France Imposes Fees on SHEIN and Temu Products

[Financial News] French authorities have begun imposing fees on fast-fashion products to curb the sale of low-priced clothing through e-commerce platforms. Fast fashion refers to the mass production and low-cost distribution of clothing that quickly reflects the latest trends. Major examples include Chinese online platforms such as SHEIN, Temu and AliExpress.
According to the BBC, France began imposing fees on fast-fashion products on the first day of the month, local time. The fee can amount to as much as 50% of a product’s pre-tax price and could reach up to €19.50 (approximately 30,976 won) per garment by 2030.
The fee for each item is calculated based on two criteria: the volume of clothing placed on the market and the cost of repairing the clothing relative to its purchase price. As of this year, the fees are €0.50 for fast-fashion underwear, €2 for T-shirts and €12 for jackets. Part of the money collected will be used to fund clothing collection and recycling infrastructure.
France’s Minister for Trade Serge Papin said, “The products sold cheaply by these platforms often fail to meet standards or lack durability.”
France decided to impose the fees because fast-fashion products encourage overconsumption and short-lived clothing creates environmental problems. The measure is also intended to protect domestic retailers.
The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) criticized France’s fast-fashion regulation bill as a “discriminatory trade barrier.”
SHEIN said, “Imposing these fees will further undermine the purchasing power of French consumers who are already facing a cost-of-living crisis.” Temu argued, “We are not a fast-fashion company because we are a marketplace that does not manufacture our own products.”
[email protected] Hong Chae-wan Reporter