France Prepares to Tighten "De Minimis" Policy
In response to the U.S. imposing additional tariffs and ending the de minimis exemption for small packages, the EU is also considering following suit. According to a report by Agence France-Presse on the 25th, the French Ministry of Economy stated in a telephone press conference that "the three companies Shein, Temu, and Amazon together account for one-quarter of France's online fashion sales."
Regardless of whether goods are delayed, the flow of goods from China continues to thrive, as former President Trump signed an executive order in early April raising the tariff on small packages sent from China to the United States from 30% to 90%.
The European Commission previously reported that approximately 46 billion low-value shipments would enter the European market in 2024, with 91% coming from China. This means that more than 145 shipments per second benefit from tariff exemptions.
The French Ministry of Finance stated that last year, a total of 1.5 billion packages were delivered in France, with over 800 million valued below 150 euros.
To address this issue, the government "hopes" to increase consumer awareness but will also propose "specific measures" that must "address this flow of goods, ensure consumer safety," and resolve distortions in competition among local participants without "questioning" the online businesses favored by many consumers.
When asked about the possibility of unilaterally canceling the tariff exemption for packages valued under 150 euros, the French Minister of Finance responded that they are "currently analyzing" whether doing so would be legal, adding that "we know this was not the original intent."
The French Ministry of Finance also stated that it is seeking "corresponding measures at the European level, perhaps not identical, but at least coordinated."
Source: rfi
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830423282786314/
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