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France launches fees aimed at ultra-fast fashion from e-commerce
Starting Tuesday, France set per-item charges for items classified as ultra-fast fashion that range up to €12 for jackets, with charges capped at 50% of a product’s pre-tax price.
France has started imposing new fees on ultra-fast fashion items sold online, a move aimed at curbing sales of cheap apparel from e-commerce platforms. The levy began on Tuesday after a June law that specifically targets companies such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, which French officials have criticized for driving growth in fast fashion.
The fees are determined by two factors, the volume of clothing placed on the market and how the cost of repairing garments compares with their purchase price. For 2026, the charges are set on a scale from €0.50 for underwear to €2 for T-shirts, €9 for jeans, and €12 for a jacket.
The per-item fee can rise to as much as €19.50 by 2030, but the legislation keeps a cap at 50% of each product’s pre-tax price. In commentary reported by BBC Business, French officials said the harmful effects of ultra-fast fashion on the environment and economy are well known.
China’s commerce ministry has criticized the law as discriminatory and a trade barrier that could violate World Trade Organization principles, according to BBC Business. France’s government also said in July that the levy would not apply to retailers including H&M and Zara, a distinction that some observers said appeared to spare certain European brands.