The Austrian Retail Association and Greenpeace are calling on the federal government and the European Commission to take action against Chinese online retail platforms Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. According to Rainer Will, managing director of the Retail Association, the flood of low-cost parcels from Asia is harming European retailers, consumers, and the environment. Greenpeace’s Ursula Bittner warned that many of the cheap products “often contain hazardous chemicals.”

Although Amazon remains the dominant online retailer in Austria, Temu and Shein already rank 4th and 9th in online sales, respectively. According to market research firm Nielsen IQ, 4.6 billion packages valued under 150 euros were shipped from Asia to Europe in 2024, with two-thirds falsely declared. Due to high U.S. tariffs, Europe has become an even more attractive target for these platforms.

Four Measures to Curb the Parcel Surge

To combat the influx, the Retail Association and Greenpeace have presented a joint four-point plan. They are demanding:

1. 1. Reduction of the 150-euro duty-free threshold to zero,

   2. More resources for customs authorities and stricter import controls,

   3. A package levy on untaxed B2C shipments from third-country platforms,

   4. Temporary platform bans in cases of repeated EU law violations.

France has already proposed fees of several euros per parcel from non-EU countries, to be paid by importers or the platforms, not consumers.

Cheap Goods Often Substandard and Unsafe

Greenpeace has tested products from Asian platforms and found some with dangerous chemicals exceeding EU limits. “This business model is not only a health risk but also based on unfair labor practices and environmental damage,” said Bittner.

Swiss broadcaster SRF tested seven sunscreens bought from Temu and reported disastrous results. Germany’s Stiftung Warentest also found that buying cheap electronics online from Asia often results in poor-quality goods being shipped halfway around the world.

The Retail Association noted that Austrian retailers sourcing goods from China cannot be compared to these platforms. Domestic retailers must follow strict regulations, pay full customs duties, and use certified suppliers. “You can import trash, or you can import products that meet EU standards,” said Will.

Government and EU Officials Signal Support for Action

Austria’s new Minister for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, Korinna Schumann (SPÖ), called the flood of cheap imports “a huge problem” that requires an EU-wide solution. She stressed that products sold via Temu and Shein must be safe for consumers.

Tourism State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner (ÖVP) confirmed that Minister Hattmannsdorfer is already in talks with the European Commission. She emphasized that many Asian imports bypass Austrian controls by entering through other EU countries. Any solution must be European-wide and is also seen as a response to U.S. tariff threats.

Economy Minister Martin Kocher Hattmannsdorfer also sees an urgent need for action. He described the uncontrolled flow of parcels from Asia as a serious threat to fair market competition, consumer safety, and Austrian retail. He supports scrapping the 150-euro duty-free threshold and has already strengthened market surveillance and digital oversight tools. Europe, he said, must not become “a gateway for uncontrolled cheap imports.”