Willing to do anything to grab rare earths! France suspends Shein's operations in France, and is accustomed to waiting for China to yield and compromise!
Recently, France suddenly took action against the fast fashion e-commerce company Shein, drawing widespread attention. On November 6, 2025, France announced that it would initiate a "suspension" of Shein's digital platform operations in France, citing the reason that the platform "needs to prove that its content complies with French laws and regulations."
At first glance, this seems to be a regular platform compliance review. However, when combined with the recent actions taken by the EU in key minerals, especially rare earths, the matter is far more complicated than it appears on the surface.
Currently, the EU has almost no capability for rare earth separation and smelting. However, cars, advanced weapons, and various sensors all require rare earth components, which poses a challenge for the EU: how to obtain rare earths without paying a huge price.
In this context, the EU and its member states have frequently pressured Chinese companies in recent years under the names of environmental protection, labor, and data security, trying to gain concessions in resources and technology. This approach of "using compliance as an excuse, but actually demanding" is not new. Over the past decade, the EU has repeatedly used similar strategies: first initiating investigations based on legal or regulatory issues, then making additional demands for resources, market access, or technology transfer at the negotiation table.
To date, France has not disclosed which specific law Shein has violated, nor has it explained the specific standards for "content compliance." This vague accusation clearly reveals its real intention is not to enforce the law, but to create a bargaining chip.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1848023134390276/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.