Shein news and archive

EU investigates Shein over sale of childlike sex dolls

Brussels - The EU on Tuesday opened an investigation into the online retail giant Shein over the sale of childlike sex dolls and what it called the platform's "addictive design". Shein came under greater scrutiny in November after French authorities condemned the giant for featuring sex dolls resembling children. The probe is the European...

Retail

US Congress reconsiders de minimis rule for low-value parcels

While the US administration officially ended the customs exemption for low-value parcels at the end of 2025, the de minimis issue has abruptly resurfaced in Washington. The cause is a new bill introduced in the House of Representatives. It seeks to partially reintroduce specific treatment for small imported shipments. This is a strong signal in...

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Retail

France reduces legal demands against Shein in appeal hearing

Paris (France) - In the initial hearing, the French state requested a complete block of the Shein website for selling illicit products. On Thursday, during the appeal, the state demanded the blocking of only the marketplace reserved for third-party sellers on the Asian platform. The Paris Court of Appeal will deliver its decision on March 19. On...

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Retail

Brookfield Asset Management: How “Canadian Warren Buffett” became new owner of BHV Marais

The iconic Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville, with its 45,000 square metres and glass rotunda opposite Paris city hall, officially changed property owner on January 28, 2026. For an estimated sum of nearly 300 million euros, investment firm Brookfield Asset Management acquired the department store's building from the Galeries Lafayette group. This...

Retail

French government appeals rejection of Shein website suspension

The appeal hearing regarding the state's request to temporarily block the Shein website in France is scheduled for February 5. This follows the initial rejection of the case. The office of the minister of commerce, Serge Papin, confirmed the date to AFP on Tuesday. On December 19, the Paris judicial court rejected the suspension request, deeming...

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Retail

Why ultra-fast fashion's 'cheap' argument is a consumer 'scam'

Paris - The French state's fight against Shein and other e-commerce giants is initially “symbolic” and “regulatory”. However, it must be coupled with a “cultural strategy” to confront platforms that sell clothing and, above all, “instagrammable emotions”. This is according to Benoît Heilbrunn, a philosopher and marketing professor. “Shein's...

Retail

Shein website avoids suspension by French court

On Friday, the Paris judicial court rejected the French state's request to temporarily block the Shein website. It deemed the measure “disproportionate” following the e-commerce giant’s voluntary removal of illicit products. The court acknowledged “serious harm to public order”, citing the sale of sex dolls resembling young girls, weapons and...

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Taxation of small Chinese parcels: EU moves to practical implementation

Brussels (Belgium) - The principle has been agreed, yet practical details remain to be settled. The 27 member states must find a provisional solution on Friday to tax the mountains of small Chinese parcels imported into the European Union “as soon as possible” in 2026. This move comes without waiting for the initial deadline set for 2028. Some...

Retail

Europe unites against ultra-fast fashion: eight countries call on Brussels to “strengthen” mobilisation

Led by France, eight European countries are calling on the European Commission and member states to “strengthen” their “collective mobilisation” against the “systemic risks” they believe are posed by e-commerce platforms such as Shein and its competitors. The letter was sent to Brussels on Monday. “We call on the Commission to mobilise strongly...

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Greenpeace says clothes sold by Shein break EU chemicals rules

Clothing items sold by Asian e-commerce giant Shein contain dangerous chemicals at levels well in excess of EU rules, Greenpeace charged in a report published on Thursday. A spokesman for Shein told AFP that "as a precaution we will withdraw the articles that we can identify from our marketplace worldwide". Greenpeace Germany said 18 clothing...

Retail

French retail sector unites against Shein

Major French trade federations representing sectors from mass market retail to clothing and toys are suing Shein for “unfair competition”. The Asian e-commerce giant, already under government scrutiny, described the move as a “boycott attempt”. Several sector organisations stated in a press release that Shein’s model “relies on non-compliance...

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Clarks strikes partnerships with Shein, Walmart and TikTok Shop

Footwear retailer Clarks has announced a slew of new wholesale partnerships with digital platforms as part of wider efforts to strengthen its online footprint. The company has announced its launch on fast fashion giant Shein; US retailers Walmart and Target; off-price platform Secret Sales; and social media site TikTok Shop. Speaking on the...