Shein blocked in France for at least three months? This is what the government will demand before the Paris court, Wednesday 26 November at 11.00, in a summary hearing. The state, through its legal representative, will request it “suspension of Shein for a period of at least three months and a number of certain conditions to allow its reopening”, the Ministry of Economy service announced.
The disruption, which concerns the entire e-commerce site and not just its marketplace, has been temporarily suspended by Shein since November 5 after the discovery of the sale of prohibited products (child pornography dolls, machetes and brass knuckles).
“This legal procedure is carried out in the application of the law of trust in the digital economy, which states that the chief justice can take all measures to prevent or end damage caused by the content of online communication services,” detailing the Ministry of Economy.
Because the failures are repeated and evenly distributed “systemic”, Bercy confirmed: “Platforms have integrated these repeated failures into their business models,” they have to be respectful “our rules, our standards are and (will be) regulated”. If Shein is the only platform that will be held accountable in court tomorrow, then it is not the only platform that the government is concerned about. AliExpress, Temu, Wish and since Tuesday eBay America are under investigation after being reported by the government for selling illegal products.
After the court decision was issued not on Wednesday but in the coming days, Shein’s respite will be short-lived. The leaders of the Asian sites were summoned on December 2 before the sustainable development committee of the National Assembly.
The government also aims to be at the forefront of Europe’s response. The Minister of SMEs and Trade, Serge Papin, held a working meeting on Thursday with his European counterparts. This meeting aims to “sharing experiences, reporting practices, sharing French reactions and seeing what leverage different Member States can use to fight these platforms”, explained Bercy.
“France’s aim is to continue to remind the European Commission so that they can take full advantage of all the mechanisms available through the Digital Services Act, which allows them to initiate procedures, investigations and then be able to impose sanctions,” describes the ministry.
The European Commission estimates that for “very large online platforms” (i.e. sites like Shein that have more than 45 million monthly users), financial sanctions could amount to up to 6% of global turnover. “And in case of serious and repeated violations, the Commission may also propose suspension measures in European markets.”
It is in this sense that the European resolution will be decided on Wednesday, November 26, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He called on the European Commission to tighten regulation of e-commerce platforms.
