Sales volumes across major Chinese e-commerce platforms Shein, Temu, and AliExpress plummeted by up to 50 percent in France between June and July.
The sharp decline follows the implementation of a three-euro European import tax on small parcels valued at 150 euros or less, according to data from shopping application Joko published by French newspaper Le Figaro.
Marketplace Temu experienced the largest drop with sales volumes falling by 50 percent, while AliExpress saw a 37 percent decline. Fast-fashion retailer Shein recorded a 15 percent decrease over the same period.
French Commerce Minister Serge Papin welcomed the downturn during an interview on French television channel TF1 on Tuesday. Papin attributed the shift to the new parcel tax alongside rising consumer awareness regarding product safety and manufacturing ethics.
Dangerous products and phone damage
Official investigations by French fraud prevention authorities revealed high safety non-compliance rates among imported products. Testing showed that 81 percent of small electrical appliances, 60 percent of phone chargers, and 42 percent of toys analyzed were deemed dangerous to consumers.
Local businesses in Paris have reported frequent device failures linked to cheap imported accessories. Jordan Bergé, manager of Phone Center in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, said his shop receives clients every week whose phones were damaged by imported Asian chargers. Bergé noted that the adapters are significantly lighter than original equipment and often feature imitated brand logos that misinform buyers.
Consumer reactions and ethical concerns
Diminishing interest extends beyond online orders to physical retail locations, including a Shein store in Limoges, a city in the Haute-Vienne department of central France. In a news report aired on network TF1, former customers expressed growing reluctance to buy from ultra-fast fashion platforms.
One former buyer explained that she stopped ordering after discovering poor working conditions, child labor, and forced labor allegations involving Uyghurs on Chinese production lines. Another shopper cited environmental harm and the ecological footprint of international clothing shipping as reasons to quit. However, a mother interviewed in the report noted that low prices remain vital for family budgets, adding that the garments hold up well in the wash.
Warehouse strategies and upcoming regulations
Platforms such as Temu, operated by PDD Holdings, AliExpress, owned by Alibaba Group, and fast-fashion giant Shein have expanded rapidly across Europe by offering low-cost goods directly from Chinese factories. Contacted by reporters, none of the platforms responded to requests for comment.
E-commerce expert Deborah Bete noted that despite lower parcel volumes, overall transaction values remain substantial. Bete cautioned that the platforms would maintain their appeal for price-conscious consumers and are likely to develop alternative strategies, including setting up fulfillment warehouses within European territory.
European Union regulators continue to target small cross-border parcel flows. Beginning on November 1, 2026, a new European management fee of two euros per package will join existing import measures. Papin told TF1 that the combined measures will bring total handling fees across Europe to five euros per parcel, which he expects will further reduce order volumes.
