A delegation of MEPs will travel to China next week – the first such visit in eight years – to assess Beijing’s compliance with European rules regarding digital trade, the European Parliament announced on the 27th. The visit will take place from March 31 to April 2.
The delegation, composed of nine MEPs, aims, among other things, to verify whether European Union (EU) rules are “complied with in practice” regarding the technology sector and digital commerce, according to the European Parliament.
The visit’s agenda includes meetings with representatives of the Asian online retail giants Temu, Alibaba, and Shein, according to a statement from the European Parliament.
In the same press release, the European Parliament noted that the main concerns are “systemic violations of EU legislation” and the “high volume of non-compliant small orders originating from online platforms in third countries,” referring to China.
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During the visit, which will begin in the capital, Beijing, the European delegation will meet with Luo Wen, Minister of the State Administration for Market Regulation.
On February 17, the European Commission launched a formal investigation into Shein over allegations of deceptive marketing, a lack of transparency in product recommendations, and the sale of illegal products in the EU, including content associated with the sexual abuse of minors.
In France, the Chinese company has been the subject of intense controversy following the identification of dolls with features considered sexualized and childlike in appearance, which led to criticism, calls for the immediate withdrawal of the products, and scrutiny by authorities regarding potential violations of child protection laws and the sale of illicit content.
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has also opened investigations into Shein, AliExpress, Temu, and Wish for the sale of these dolls.
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In a statement released today, the European Parliament also stated that it expects the delegation led by the chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection to convey the EU’s position on “digital regulation, strategic autonomy, and the security of digital markets, with a particular focus on strengthening consumer protection and product safety.”
In Shanghai, MEPs will meet with Temu representatives to discuss “compliance with EU digital market rules and fair competition.”
The visit is “an important opportunity to address common challenges in the digital and e-commerce sectors and promote fair competition between the EU and China,” the statement said. Late last year, the European Commission decided to impose a three-euro fee starting in July 2026 on orders under 150 euros arriving, mainly from China, through online stores.
The goal is to curb the flood of such imports, which have tripled since 2022. In 2024, 4.6 billion parcels valued at less than 150 euros (1,402 patacas) arrived in Europe. This makes it difficult for customs authorities to inspect the contents and opens the door to products that do not meet European standards, creating unfair competition for EU manufacturers.
The EU has adopted the world’s first legislation governing digital platforms, which are now required to remove illegal and harmful content under the new Digital Services Act.
The law was created to protect the fundamental rights of online users in the EU and has become groundbreaking legislation for the digital space, holding platforms accountable for harmful content, particularly disinformation. Tech companies that fail to comply may face fines proportional to their size.
