McGrath Urges Chinese Trading Platforms to Comply with EU Standards

Brussels: European Commissioner Michael McGrath is expressing concern over the massive influx of small parcels into the EU, predominantly from China, which he believes poses risks to EU citizens and businesses. He aims to address this issue during a planned visit to China later this year.

According to Ansa News Agency, McGrath, the EU Consumer Protection Commissioner, stated that he is “deeply concerned” about the millions of small parcels entering the European Union daily, jeopardizing consumer safety and placing undue pressure on EU companies due to increased competition. “We have experienced an explosion in the volume of small parcels being imported into the EU. 4.6 billion small parcels last year,” McGrath explained in an interview with the European Newsroom in Brussels.

McGrath highlighted that dealing with approximately 12 million parcels a day would overwhelm any system. He noted that over 90 percent of these parcels come from China, with many shipped by online retail platforms like Shein and Temu, which inundate the EU with inexpensive and reportedly unsafe products. While he did not disclose specific measures, McGrath mentioned that actions are underway against these platforms.

In an effort to tackle this issue, the European Commission proposed in May a levy of 2 Euros on low-value parcels under 150 Euros. McGrath emphasized the importance of compliance with EU laws, stating, “The message has to go out loud and clear that for anyone selling into the European Union, they must respect European Union laws when it comes to product safety and our consumer protection rules.”

McGrath also expressed concern about the impact on European companies due to intense competition from foreign enterprises operating within the EU market. He emphasized the necessity of enforcing EU regulations to ensure a level playing field, asserting, “We have to have the mechanisms to fully implement EU rules, and if we do not, then it is European companies that will lose out.”

The Commissioner plans to visit China to engage directly with Chinese authorities, underscoring the importance of mutual respect for each other’s rules. He echoed the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s strategy of “de-risking rather than decoupling” with China, acknowledging China as an important trading partner yet stressing the need to address trade imbalances and unfair competition.