EU delegation urges China to tighten export controls

EU lawmakers on Tuesday called on Beijing to implement stricter checks on exports during their first visit to China in eight years.

"We have repeatedly stressed that it is important for exports to be subject to stronger controls on the Chinese side," said Anna Cavazzini, chair of the European Parliament's Internal Market Committee, in Beijing.

She added that companies must comply with the law and adapt their policies more swiftly in response to ongoing regulatory proceedings.

The nine-member delegation tasked with internal market and consumer protection for the European Union will continue their visit in Shanghai, where they are scheduled to meet with representatives from the e-commerce giant Alibaba and online platforms Shein and Temu.

The meetings come after a scandal involving the sale of child-like sex dolls on Shein, which prompted the European Commission to launch proceedings against the company.

Temu is also under scrutiny by Brussels authorities for alleged violations of EU regulations.

The EU has long criticized the surge of low-cost goods from China entering the European Economic Area.

According to the commission, e-commerce imports into the EU via online marketplaces such as Temu, Shein and Alibaba reached 4.6 billion small parcels in 2024, with 91% originating from China.

This marks the first EU delegation visit to China in eight years, following a period of strained relations driven by trade disputes and China's ties with Russia amid its ongoing war against Ukraine.