The European Union is intensifying its enforcement on Chinese e-commerce platforms, conducting rigorous compliance inspections and raising import fees on goods from fast-fashion retailers such as Temu and Shein.
On Monday, the European Commission imposed a €550 million fine on AliExpress due to inadequate risk evaluation and mitigation concerning the sale of illegal, hazardous, and counterfeit items on its marketplace.
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This ruling follows shortly after the EU introduced a flat €3 customs duty on shipments valued below €150, which were previously exempt from duties — a policy shift projected to notably impact the business frameworks of major Chinese online retailers like AliExpress, Shein, and Temu.
The penalty marks the newest stage in formal actions initiated in 2024 over potential violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act. According to the Commission’s findings, AliExpress failed to implement an effective mechanism to identify and eliminate illicit products, while considerably underestimating the disparity between the number of human moderators and the volume of content needing review.
The platform’s product verification process showed susceptibility to manipulation, with some sellers allegedly mislabeling goods to circumvent stricter regulations.
The Commission’s investigation revealed that despite moderation measures, significant quantities of prohibited items — including unsafe toys and harmful cosmetics — continued to be available on AliExpress, sometimes remaining listed for several weeks after being reported.
Further findings showed AliExpress did not consistently enforce its penalties, permitting stores selling illegal products to operate on the site even after sanctions were applied.
The brand authorization system, intended to block counterfeit merchandise, was judged insufficiently effective, as sellers found ways to bypass controls and offer fake goods.
AliExpress must submit a corrective action plan by 20 October 2026 explaining how it intends to address the Commission’s issues. The EU authorities will review this plan and decide within two months if additional measures are necessary.
Reacting to inquiries from Euronews, AliExpress stated it has devoted significant resources to risk evaluation, product safety, and consumer protection.
«We do not agree with the ruling or the excessive fine, which does not accurately reflect our robust framework and the considerable, proactive improvements we have implemented,» the company said in a statement. «We are thoroughly assessing the decision and evaluating all available courses of action.»