The executive director of the Portuguese Textile and Clothing Association (ATP), Ana Paula Dinis, considers that two euros per order “is a ridiculously low value” for the rate that is being studied by the European Commission in order to curb the high volume of Shein and Temu articles that are entering Europe.

“We should apply a fee of 20 euros” to purchases made on these e-commerce platforms, the official argued, speaking to Diário de Notícias, suggesting that the amount charged should finance human and financial resources to ensure greater control of these orders at the borders.

Along the same lines, César Araújo, president of the National Association of Clothing and Apparel Industries (ANIVEC), admits that the preliminary proposal from Brussels is “a scandal”. According to the official, articles enter Europe “without any customs control”, which “can be clothing, weapons or other products”. These orders “don’t cost anything, they don’t come with an invoice and they don’t go through any controls. We’re talking about the biggest tax fraud of the 21st century,” he emphasizes.

Both associations are therefore calling for an end to the rule, which exempts purchases worth up to 150 euros from customs duties and the payment of VAT for transactions worth less than 20 euros. “The rule must end, and VAT and customs duties must be applied to purchases on these platforms. And this must happen now, because we run the risk of no longer having industry and no retail,” says Ana Paula Dinis.