Experts claim that France’s proposed crackdown on ultra-fast fashion aims to target Chinese e-commerce companies under the guise of environmental concern, potentially destroying billions of euros in trade with China.
They said this because the measure promises to address the environmental impact of inexpensive, disposable apparel and is currently the subject of intense debate in the French National Assembly. However, its language and goal have become more focused, specifically targeting e-commerce behemoths like SHEIN, Temu and AliExpress—all of which have a strong presence in China’s apparel supply chain.
Sustainability is no longer the focus of this, according to Wang Peng, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. The goal is to weaponise policy in order to stifle emerging Chinese actors and undermine international free trade.
Among the most outspoken supporters are the Confederation of French Trade and the French Trade Council. They demanded that the government promptly delist the three Chinese platforms in a combined open letter backed by over 230 brands and 14 federations, arguing that “85 per cent to 95 per cent” of their products do not adhere to EU regulations.
However, many contend that the legislation is too specific to be solely environmental. Chen Jin, a professor at Beijing’s University of International Business and Economics, stated that the measure appears to be surgically crafted to limit China’s increasing supremacy in fast fashion rather than addressing environmental damage generally.
China has long been France’s main source for apparel. The proposed regulation may increase clothing prices by US $ 5.71 to US $ 11.42 per item, which would probably be borne by French consumers, according to the French Institute for Economic Research.
