Michael McGrath, a European Union Commissioner for Consumer Protection, said he was concerned about the number of small shipments that come to the European Union every day – mainly from China. At the same time, he pointed to threats to consumer safety and fair competition on the market.
“We have experienced an explosion of the number of small packages imported to the EU,” McGrath said in an interview with the European Newsroom in Brussels. He added that in 2023 as many as 4.6 billion such shipments went to the EU, which means an average of 12 million a day. – Such a scale would load each system to the limit – he noted.
Over 90 percent these packages come from China And it is sent via e-commerce platforms, such as Shein or this. According to the Commissioner, they often contain dangerous and unconventive products.
– Everyone who sells to the EU market must comply with our provisions regarding product safety and consumer protection. We cannot expose 450 million EU citizens at risk, ”said McGrath.
Additional fee for cheap shipments
European Commission In May, she proposed an introduction of a fee of EUR 2 for shipments worth below EUR 150. McGrath pointed out that activities are already underway to Chinese trading platforms, but he did not provide details.
The Commissioner also expressed concerns about the honesty of competition on the common market. “If we do not have mechanisms to enforce the law, European companies will suffer losses,” he said.
He also announced a visit to China this year, so that he – as he put – “to talk to the local authorities directly”.
McGrath emphasized that the EU does not intend to “cut off” from China, but strives to reduce risks in trade relations. “When imbalances appear, dishonest competition or lack of respect for our rules, we must react strongly,” he said.
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