The European Union is increasing import duties on dangerous products from Chinese online stores in a bid to address safety concerns. According to reports from Financial Times (FT), the European Commission is planning to remove the current 150 euro import duty-free limit for e-commerce purchases made outside the EU. This move aims to target Chinese online shopping platforms such as Temu and Ali Express, as well as the online store Shein, which specializes in clothes.
The number of products found to be dangerous increased by more than 50 percent from 2022 to 2023, with 3,400 reported cases. Safety concerns were particularly high in cosmetics, toys, electrical appliances, and clothing. In 2018, 2.3 billion products crossed the EU customs border from outside the Union, with China supporting online stores in their transportation costs.
However, removing import duty-free customs could pose challenges for customs officials and increase their workload. Nevertheless, online stores like Temu and Ali Express have expressed willingness to cooperate with EU legislators to maintain their presence in the European market.
In conclusion, the EU is taking steps to protect consumers by ensuring that products meet EU safety standards through increased import duties on dangerous products from Chinese online stores.
