Temu and Shein in the crosshairs: Chinese marketplaces could be blacklisted

During ITIF’s test purchases, 24 out of 51 products were found to be non-compliant. The selection included counterfeit shoes, cosmetics, toys, and even medicines. According to the organization, these online giants not only infringe intellectual property rights but also pose serious risks to consumer safety.

European investigations reached similar conclusions: products from Shein and Temu frequently contained hazardous chemicals and heavy metals. Moreover, the fast fashion model creates significant environmental burdens – cheap clothes wear out quickly and end up as waste, while air transport and overproduction leave behind a massive carbon footprint. Advocacy groups also warn that forced labor and child labor may occur in supply chains.

Risks are also evident in the area of data protection. Several countries are investigating whether Temu collects excessive personal information from users, and some governments have already banned the app’s use on official devices due to privacy concerns.

Although Chinese marketplaces have expanded at unprecedented speed, the growing number of investigations and the proposed blacklisting suggest that, in the long run, not only consumers but the entire global economy could pay a high price for cheap deals.