EU Commission eyes major import overhaul to crack down on illegal Chinese products

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Published: 2026-09-10T18:31:06.345Z • Permanent link

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has been spearheading the effort to crack down on non-compliant imports, with Brussels preparing a new law to tackle the issue. According to sources close to the matter, the draft proposal is set to be unveiled in the coming weeks, sparking concerns among online marketplaces and importers of Chinese goods. The move is seen as a response to the growing number of cases of counterfeit and substandard products entering the EU market. Vestager has been at the forefront of EU efforts to curb the trade of illicit goods, with a particular focus on China. In a statement, a spokesperson for the European Commission said that the new law would "ensure that all imports are compliant with EU regulations and protect consumers.

Critics have been quick to point out that the EU's approach has been criticized for being too soft on Chinese companies, with some arguing that the bloc's focus on labeling and certification has failed to prevent the influx of substandard products. However, proponents of the new law argue that it is a necessary step to protect consumers and prevent the spread of counterfeit goods. According to data from the EU's customs agency, the value of non-compliant imports has been increasing steadily over the past few years, with a significant portion of these goods coming from China. In 2020, the EU's customs agency seized over 100 million euros' worth of counterfeit goods, with China accounting for a significant proportion of these seizures.

Industry insiders say that the new law will have a significant impact on online marketplaces, with many companies already feeling the pinch as a result of increased scrutiny. According to a report by the market research firm, Euromonitor, the value of online sales of counterfeit goods in the EU is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros. The new law will require online marketplaces to take greater responsibility for ensuring that the goods they sell are compliant with EU regulations, with liability for non-compliant imports set to be a major focus of the new law.

The impact of the new law will be felt far beyond the EU, with global companies and research communities set to be affected. Companies such as Alibaba and JD.com, which dominate the Chinese e-commerce market, will be under pressure to ensure that their platforms comply with EU regulations. Research communities will also be affected, with many studies relying on data from online marketplaces to inform their research. The new law will also have a significant impact on global trade, with the EU's customs agency estimating that the value of non-compliant imports could increase by as much as 20% in the coming years. This will put pressure on companies and governments around the world to take greater action to prevent the spread of counterfeit goods.

The new law will also have a significant impact on the global market for e-commerce, with many companies already feeling the pinch as a result of increased scrutiny. According to a report by the market research firm, Deloitte, the value of e-commerce sales in the EU is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of euros. The new law will require online marketplaces to take greater responsibility for ensuring that the goods they sell are compliant with EU regulations, with liability for non-compliant imports set to be a major focus of the new law. This will put pressure on companies to invest in new technology and processes to ensure compliance, which could lead to increased costs and reduced profits.

The EU's approach to tackling non-compliant imports is part of a broader pattern of increasing scrutiny of global companies and their supply chains. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cases of companies being found to have imported substandard goods, with many of these cases involving Chinese companies. For example, in 2020, the EU's customs agency seized over 100 million euros' worth of counterfeit goods, with China accounting for a significant proportion of these seizures. This has led to increased calls for greater transparency and accountability in the global supply chain, with many companies and governments around the world taking steps to improve their compliance procedures.