On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, China issued a warning of potential retaliation against France over a recently passed French law designed to curb the rise of fast fashion. The legislation, approved by France's parliament late last month, is set to impose per-item fees starting September 1, 2026, targeting major Asian e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.

The fast fashion companies affected are known for selling large volumes of lower-quality clothing at very low prices, contributing significantly to pollution from the textile industry, a major greenhouse gas emitter. An unidentified spokesperson from Beijing's commerce ministry criticized the law, stating it "under the guise of setting so-called 'environmental protection' and 'sustainability' standards, is in reality implementing exclusionary measures."

China alleges the regulation violates the World Trade Organization's (WTO) non-discrimination principle and constitutes a trade barrier against Chinese firms. The spokesperson urged France to comply with WTO rules and to "immediately correct the discriminatory practices," warning that "necessary measures to retaliate should the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese firms be infringed upon."

The French penalties will initially apply to certain mass-produced textile products and will increase over time. Additionally, the law bans advertising for mass-produced, cheap clothing brands, including restrictions on social media influencers.

French Trade Minister Serge Papin stated last month that the three Asian firms targeted by the bill were driving the surge in ultra-fast fashion. Meanwhile, the European Commission has raised questions about whether the bill's advertising provisions comply with EU law.

Sources