France imposes levy on ultra-fast fashion goods from September 1

September 1, 2026 at 11:38 AM2 min

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France's new levy on ultra-fast fashion goods took effect September 1, targeting Asian platforms Shein, Temu and AliExpress. The charge starts at 0.5 euros for underwear and rises to 12 euros for jackets in 2026, with a cap of 50 percent of the pre-tax price. The measure excludes brands like H&M and Zara, drawing criticism from market participants.

Key Facts

The levy took effect in France on September 1, 2026, targeting ultra-fast fashion platforms Shein, Temu and AliExpress.
In 2026, companies will pay an additional 0.5 euros for underwear, 2 euros for T-shirts, 9 euros for jeans and 12 euros for jackets.
By 2030, the levy could reach 19.5 euros per item, capped at 50 percent of the pre-tax price.
The rules do not apply to brands such as H&M and Zara, which has drawn criticism from some experts and market participants.
China called the French law discriminatory and warned of possible retaliatory measures.

Levy Structure

The French parliament passed the law in June, and the levy took effect on September 1. The charge depends on the product category and is calculated on a scale that considers sales volume and the complexity of repairing the item relative to its cost. In 2026, companies will pay an additional 0.5 euros for underwear, 2 euros for T-shirts, 9 euros for jeans and 12 euros for jackets. By 2030, the levy could reach 19.5 euros per item, but no more than 50 percent of its pre-tax price.

Targets and Exemptions

The measure is aimed primarily at popular Asian online platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress, which sell large volumes of cheap clothing. French authorities say they want to reduce the environmental damage from mass production of cheap clothing and protect the country's economy. 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.

International Reaction

China previously called the French law discriminatory and warned of possible retaliatory measures. The French government noted that after the introduction of a separate EU levy on small parcels from China, the volume of such shipments had already fallen by 30-40 percent.