In France, a new tax on goods from the so-called ultra-fast fashion industry will come into effect on September 1. The measure is primarily aimed at popular Asian online platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, which sell large volumes of cheap clothing. The law was passed by the French parliament in June. The amount of the tax will depend on the category of the product and will be calculated according to a special scale that takes into account sales volume and the complexity of repairing the item compared to its cost, Deutsche Welle reports. By 2026, companies will pay an additional €0.5 for underwear, €2 for t-shirts, €9 for jeans, and €12 for jackets. By 2030, the tax could reach €19.5 per item, but no more than 50% of its price before tax. French authorities state that they want to reduce the environmental damage caused by the mass production of cheap clothing and protect the country's economy. However, the new rules do not apply to brands such as H&M and Zara, which has already drawn criticism from some experts and market participants. China previously called the French law discriminatory and warned of possible retaliatory measures. The French government, in turn, notes that after the introduction of a separate tax by the EU on small parcels from China, the volume of such shipments has already decreased by 30-40%.
