France imposes eco-levy on Shein, Temu, AliExpress from September 1

September 1, 2026 at 03:51 PM2 min

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France began applying a new eco-levy on ultra-fast fashion items from September 1, targeting Asian platforms Shein, Temu and AliExpress. The charge starts at 0.5 euros for underwear and reaches 12 euros for a jacket in 2026. The levy aims to curb environmental damage and protect the domestic market.

Key Facts

The French parliament passed the ultra-fast fashion levy law in June.
In 2026, the levy is 0.5 euros for underwear, 2 euros for a T-shirt, 9 euros for jeans, and 12 euros for a jacket.
By 2030, the maximum levy could rise to 19.5 euros per item, capped at 50% of the pre-tax price.
H&M and Zara are not covered by the new mechanism.
China called the French measures discriminatory and warned of possible retaliation.

Levy Structure

The French parliament adopted the law in June, and the levy took effect on September 1. The charge is calculated on a scale that accounts for sales volume and the difficulty of repairing an item relative to its cost. In 2026, the levy is 0.5 euros for underwear, 2 euros for a T-shirt, 9 euros for jeans, and 12 euros for a jacket. By 2030, the maximum payment could reach 19.5 euros per unit, but it cannot exceed 50% of the item's pre-tax price.

Market Impact

The measure primarily targets Asian online platforms Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, which sell large volumes of cheap clothing. French authorities say the levy is needed to reduce environmental damage from mass production of cheap clothing and to protect the domestic market. Traditional fast-fashion players H&M and Zara are not covered by the mechanism, drawing criticism. Paris points to the effect of EU-wide restrictions: after the EU introduced a separate levy on small parcels from China, the volume of such shipments fell by 30–40%, according to French authorities.

International Reaction

China has called the French measures discriminatory and warned of possible countermeasures. France cites the 30–40% drop in small parcel volumes from China after the EU levy as evidence that such restrictions work.