Sep 10, 4:02 PM
Brussels Prepares Yet Another Bureaucratic Fix for Chinese Imports
The proposed European Product Act leverages trade friction to expand central enforcement power and impose new market levies.
Whenever Brussels spots a commercial dilemma—in this instance, an avalanche of cheap consumer goods flowing directly into living rooms via foreign online platforms—its instinct is predictably uniform. Rather than stripping away domestic red tape to help local businesses compete, the executive apparatus opts for centralisation, new administrative levies, and expanded enforcement authority.
Enter the European Product Act, slated for publication on October 6. Drafted to plug enforcement loopholes exploited by e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein, the proposal arrives against the backdrop of a trade deficit with Beijing that reached one billion euros per day in 2025. Regulators point to tangible risks, citing a 200 million euro fine imposed on Temu in May over hazardous toys and faulty electronics, alongside investigations into Shein over illegal inventory.
To stop non-EU sellers from bypassing accountability, the draft mandates that every product sold in the bloc must be linked to a responsible EU-based economic operator—be it an importer or an authorised representative. Online marketplaces will be obliged to check Digital Product Passports containing compliance data and remove flagged goods immediately. Fail to verify these records, and the platform itself inherits the legal liabilities of an authorised representative.
Then comes the fiscal instrument. The Commission proposes a dedicated Union market surveillance fee on goods arriving from third countries. Intended to offload surveillance expenses onto importers, individual parcels will bear higher charges relative to bulk shipments, though the precise calculations are left to future secondary legislation. This fee arrives on top of distinct customs handling charges currently under discussion elsewhere in Brussels.
Most striking is the political shift in authority. Product surveillance has historically remained the domain of national capitals. Under the proposed draft, should a non-compliant item threaten two-thirds of member states while national authorities stall, the Commission grants itself direct power to investigate, order product withdrawals, and penalise operators directly. It is a familiar template: converting a genuine enforcement challenge into a permanent expansion of central bureaucratic power.
Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com
