France introduces per-item levy to curb ultra-fast fashion on Asian platforms
Starting Tuesday, France will charge a fee that can reach almost €20 per garment, targeting low-cost Asian e-commerce sites such as Shein and Temu.
From Tuesday onward, France will impose a per-item charge on ultra-fast fashion items that can climb to nearly €20 per piece, affecting Asian e-commerce giants such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress. This step implements legislation approved by the French parliament in June, which classifies ultra-fast fashion based on the volume of clothing placed on the market and the cost of repairing items relative to their purchase price.
The levy follows a tiered schedule: a 50 cent fee for underwear, €2 for T-shirts, €9 for jeans and €12 for jackets. Mathieu Lefevre, the minister for ecological transition, highlighted the documented environmental and economic damage caused by such low-cost, low-quality apparel. By taxing these products, the government aims to curb the surge of cheap Asian-origin clothing in France and encourage more sustainable consumption. The measure reflects a broader European push to regulate fast-fashion supply chains and protect domestic markets.
Why it matters
The levy seeks to reduce environmental damage and market distortion caused by cheap, disposable clothing sold by Asian e-commerce platforms.
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