Tang and Roswall’s meeting comes just weeks after the company narrowly avoided a full suspension of its online marketplace in France as the government’s efforts to mount an EU-level response to Shein lose momentum.
“This meeting is part of our regular engagement with European policymakers on issues relevant to our sector,” said Martin Reidy, a spokesperson for the company, adding that it reflects Shein’s “commitment to constructive dialogue.”
EU countries have agreed to start taxing small parcels coming into the EU from July this year — a policy France lobbied hard for — but Shein’s commercial activities in Europe show no signs of slowing down.
The company opened a massive logistics hub in Wrocław, Poland with 740,000 square meters of warehouse space in December, saying in a press release that the facility would create thousands of jobs and service 100 million shoppers on the continent.
“I look forward to hearing from Shein how it respects EU legislation and incorporates sustainable and circular solutions to better protect consumers,” Roswall said ahead of the meeting, adding that “ultrafast fashion is a growing challenge.”
Parliament not impressed
News of Tang’s visit sparked a reaction among Europe’s left-leaning lawmakers, who together with the Conservatives, liberals and the Greens passed a resolution last November calling on the Commission to “move from dialogue to decisive enforcement” of EU consumer protection standards for online platforms.