More Expensive to Shop from Chinese Discount Stores

Swedish consumers may soon have to pay more for their bargains from discount sites like Temu and Shein. The government plans to abolish the duty-free allowance for goods under 1800 kronor from these platforms, reports TV4.

Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) argues that the measure is necessary to protect Swedish consumers and create fairer competition. “We must make it more difficult for Chinese e-commerce companies that can send toxic goods at unreasonably low prices,” says Svantesson.

The volume of packages from sites like Temu and Shein has increased dramatically in recent years. EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič estimated last year that the number of deliveries from these platforms would almost triple from 2022. In December 2024 alone, more than six million were expected to be delivered from China to Sweden.

At the same time, the EU is discussing the possibility of introducing fees on products from low-cost sites outside the union. The aim is to level the playing field for European companies competing with foreign platforms.

If duty-free status is abolished, prices for goods from Temu, Shein, and similar sites may rise. This could lead to more people choosing to shop from domestic stores, which could benefit Swedish companies.

At the same time, the perception of distorted competition is not the only topic of discussion when it comes to Chinese low-cost sites. Many consumer organizations have also issued warnings about products that do not comply with EU standards. This mainly concerns beauty products and toys that contain harmful levels of chemicals, toys that are not safe, electronics that can cause fires, and not least outright scam products.