China flags WTO concerns over France’s fast-fashion regulations

China’s Ministry of Commerce has raised grave concerns over France’s newly introduced anti-ultra-fast-fashion law, saying it imposes discriminatory restrictions on Chinese-invested cross-border e-commerce platforms and severely distorts fair competition through legislation.The ministry spokesperson made the remarks after French officials explicitly identified cross-border e-commerce platforms, including Shein, Temu and AliExpress, as primary targets of the law.

China’s commerce ministry has raised concerns over France’s anti-ultra-fast-fashion law targeting cross-border platforms including Shein, Temu and AliExpress.
It said the measure creates discriminatory restrictions and may violate World Trade Organization non-discrimination rules.
Fashion e-commerce sellers face closer scrutiny as China monitors implementation and warns of necessary responses.

The law, presented as setting environmental and sustainability standards, has introduced exclusionary measures suspected of breaching the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) non-discrimination principle, the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson added the measure constitutes a trade barrier against China and departs from principles of fair competition and free trade that France has publicly advocated. It will harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises as well as French consumers.

China urged France to comply with WTO rules, correct the practices immediately and provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese-invested enterprises.

The ministry said China will monitor the formulation and implementation of the relevant rules and take necessary measures if the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises are infringed upon.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk