On Thursday, China claimed that France's new fast-fashion law, targeting major Asian e-commerce platforms including Shein and Temu was "clearly discriminatory." Responding to these accusations, a source from a department linked to France's Ministry of Foreign Minister Affairs told Euronews that these claims were false.
A source from the French Foreign Trade and Attractiveness office said that the new law was "not discriminatory" and that it was introduced to "protect the environment and consumers."
"It is in everyone's interest, including China's, to have a peaceful relationship with France, with the European Union, and a civil trade relationship", the source said.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson Huang Ling called for the suspension of the new law, which came into force on Tuesday, after it was voted in July.
The law imposes fees on certain items — which will eventually reach almost 20 euros per garment — as part of a push to curb the industry's environmental and local economic impacts.
