The French government has also requested that the EU be granted new powers to delist non-compliant online platforms like Shein.

The associations urge the EU to reform the Customs Code, specifically to eliminate duty exemptions for parcels under €150, which are heavily exploited by these e-commerce giants.

Mario Jorge Machado, president of Euratex, stresses that the EU has the capacity and obligation to act immediately, marking this as the first unified call from European federations for concrete action.

European textile industry associations have issued a joint appeal to the European Union, urging urgent action to curb the growth of fast-fashion online platforms like Shein, Alibaba, and Temu, which are mainly based in China.

The associations warn that the surge in fast-fashion imports threatens the sustainability and competitiveness of the European textile sector, risking jobs and the industry's future.

In 2024, the EU imported 4.5 billion packages from these platforms, with a significant increase from previous years, highlighting the scale of the issue.

The influx of Chinese shipments has doubled from 2023 and tripled from 2022, with 96% originating from China, mainly through platforms like Shein, Alibaba, and Temu.

This situation impacts 1.3 million jobs across 200,000 companies in the EU, generating around €170 billion in revenue, emphasizing the economic importance of the sector.

Concerns also extend to increased textile waste, unfair economic practices, VAT fraud, intellectual property violations, and misleading advertising linked to these platforms.

European industry groups are calling for swift regulatory measures, including implementing fees on small parcels to fund customs controls and engaging with Chinese authorities on environmental and trade practices.

This initiative reflects widespread concern from environmental groups, human rights organizations, and authorities, who are already investigating, fining, and proposing legislation to address these issues.

They demand faster investigations, harsher sanctions, and holding platforms legally responsible through designated representatives to combat infractions.