China Urges France to Abandon Anti-Fast Fashion Law, Citing Discrimination
On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) revealed that it had engaged in talks with French firms operating within its borders, reiterating its call for France to retract its “anti-fast fashion law,” which Beijing views as a form of protectionism. According to spokesperson Huang Ling, reports suggest that some French companies may have benefited from subsidies provided by the European Union and its member nations, potentially extending this support to their operations in China. Huang noted that these discussions aimed to “gather information and seek clarifications” to evaluate the subsidies' effects. He criticized the French law for employing “clearly targeted standards” that disadvantage Chinese e-commerce, warning that such regulations could significantly disrupt fair competition. The legislation categorizes clothing as “ultra-fast fashion” based on two factors: the amount of clothing released into the market and the costs of garment repairs in relation to retail prices. This intervention underscores the growing trade tensions between Beijing and Paris regarding e-commerce and fashion regulations.
Key facts
- China’s Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) held talks with French companies operating in China on Thursday.
- Mofcom reiterated calls for France to stop using its anti-fast fashion law to undermine Chinese enterprises.
- Ministry spokesperson Huang Ling said public reports suggested some French companies received subsidies from the EU and its member states.
- Huang noted the subsidies might have been partly passed through to Chinese-based entities.
- The discussions aimed to seek information and request explanations to assess the impact.
- Huang said the law uses plainly targeted standards and parameters to discriminate against Chinese cross-border e-commerce operators.
- Huang warned the rules would severely distort fair competition.
- Under the French legislation, clothing qualifies as ultra-fast fashion based on volume placed on the market and garment repair costs relative to retail price.
Entities
Institutions
- China’s Ministry of Commerce
- Mofcom
- European Union
Locations
- China
- France
- Beijing
- Paris