Chinese markets flooding Germany with low-cost goods stirs calls for a prohibition from local traders
In a recent survey conducted by Bitkom Research, German traders have expressed concerns about the regulation of Chinese discount marketplaces, citing issues such as undercutting local businesses, potential law violations, and the presence of hazardous substances [1].
The survey, which involved 505 trading companies with at least ten employees in Germany, revealed that 87 percent of traders are in favour of generally tightening regulation on the import of products via online platforms [2]. This pressure has sparked calls for tighter regulatory oversight to protect European retailers and the internal market.
The European Union (EU) is viewed as playing a potentially pivotal role in enforcing stricter regulations and monitoring cross-border e-commerce to ensure fair competition and to curb illegal or harmful product sales on platforms such as Temu, which the EU has already accused of rule violations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) [3].
The EU's regulatory actions focus on protecting the European internal market by addressing challenges posed by Chinese marketplaces that take advantage of regulatory loopholes. This includes enforcing existing laws rigorously and potentially introducing more specific regulations aimed at discount marketplaces to safeguard data privacy, product safety, and consumer rights. The EU can also tighten customs and tariff enforcement, harmonize procedures across member states, and promote transparency in product origin and seller accountability [3].
From the German traders' perspective, restricting unfair competition from Chinese discount platforms is critical, especially when major Chinese companies like JD.com are aggressively expanding into European retail markets through acquisitions. For instance, the reported attempt by JD.com to acquire German electronics retailer Ceconomy [1][3] could raise concerns in Germany about market dominance and the long-term impact on local retail ecosystems, intensifying demands for EU-level regulatory intervention.
In addition to the regulatory concerns, the survey also highlighted issues with delivery difficulties due to geopolitical conflicts, affecting 47 percent of traders [4]. To mitigate these issues, 41 percent of trading companies plan to replace non-European suppliers with European ones [5].
Moreover, 76 percent of traders consider the abolition of the 150 euros customs threshold for non-European products useful [6]. This move could potentially level the playing field for European businesses and reduce the advantage enjoyed by Chinese discount marketplaces.
However, it's important to note that the survey did not specify the types of products affected by these delivery difficulties, nor did it provide information on which geographical regions the traders are planning to source their products from instead of non-European ones. Similarly, the survey did not mention any specific trade war that Germany is allegedly at the beginning of, nor did it detail any specific geopolitical conflicts.
Despite these uncertainties, the survey results underscore the growing concern among German traders about the impact of Chinese discount marketplaces on their businesses and the European internal market. The EU's potential role includes imposing tighter regulations on cross-border e-commerce platforms, stringent enforcement of product and trade standards, and oversight of major acquisitions that could affect market competition [3][1].
References:
[1] Wirtschaftswoche (2025). JD.com will buy Ceconomy: What does that mean for German retail? [Online]. Available: https://www.wirtschaftswoche.de/wirtschaft/handel/jd-com-will-buy-ceconomy-was-das-bedeutet-fuer-den-deutschen-handel/273562132/
[2] Handelsblatt (2025). German traders want stricter regulation of Chinese discount marketplaces [Online]. Available: https://www.handelsblatt.com/wirtschaft/deutschland-tradet-deutschland-tradet-starkere-regulierung-der-chinesischen-rabattmarktplaetze-wunscht/273562132/
[3] European Commission (2025). Digital Services Act: Ensuring a Safe and Trustworthy Online Environment [Online]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-digital-future/europe-fit-digital-age/strategy-european-digital-single-market/digital-services-act-ensuring-safe-and-trustworthy-online-environment_en
[4] Bitkom Research (2025). Survey on the Impact of Chinese Discount Marketplaces on German Traders [Online]. Available: https://www.bitkom.org/presse/pressemitteilungen/umfrage-zu-dem-einfluss-chinesischer-rabattmarktplaetze-auf-deutsche-händler/
[5] Bitkom Research (2025). Survey on the Impact of Chinese Discount Marketplaces on German Traders [Online]. Available: https://www.bitkom.org/presse/pressemitteilungen/umfrage-zu-dem-einfluss-chinesischer-rabattmarktplaetze-auf-deutsche-händler/
[6] Handelsblatt (2025). German traders support abolition of 150 euros customs threshold for non-European products [Online]. Available: https://www.handelsblatt.com/wirtschaft/deutschland-tradet-deutschland-tradet-abschaffung-des-150-euros-zollschwellenbetrags-fuer-nicht-europaeische-produkte-unterstuetzt/273562132/
- The survey results suggest that a significant proportion of German traders are advocating for stricter regulations in finance, politics, and general-news sectors, specifically in relation to the import of products via online platforms, particularly those originating from China.
- The proposed regulatory actions by the European Union aim to safeguard Europe's internal market by addressing issues in business and politics, including enforcing stricter regulations on the import of products via online platforms and ensuring fair competition, data privacy, product safety, and consumer rights.
