European Parliament member Anna Cavazzini has stated that Chinese e-commerce platform Temu must demonstrate concrete actions to comply with European Union regulations, following a €200 million fine imposed by the European Commission. The penalty, levied over the sale of dangerous baby toys, highlights ongoing tensions between Brussels and Beijing over product safety and market fairness.
Cavazzini, a German Green MEP who has closely monitored digital trade issues, acknowledged that Temu has shown a willingness to adhere to EU standards. However, she stressed that mere intent is insufficient. “They need to show actions, not just words,” she said in an interview, pointing to the need for systematic changes in how the company vets products before they reach European consumers.
Structural Concerns Beyond a Single Fine
The fine, announced earlier this month, specifically targeted unsafe toys that posed choking and chemical hazards. Yet Cavazzini framed the incident as part of a broader challenge. “This is not just about one product category,” she explained. “There is a structural problem of unfair competition coming from China, where platforms can undercut European businesses by skirting safety and labor rules.”
Her comments come amid a wider reassessment of EU-China trade relations. The bloc has been weighing new tariffs and supplier rules as part of a potential trade war, as reported in EU Weighs Tariffs, Supplier Rules, and Unity as China Trade War Looms. Meanwhile, Chinese carmakers have doubled their EU market share, as detailed in Chinese Carmakers Double EU Market Share as EV Sales Surge in 2026, illustrating the rapid expansion of Chinese commerce across multiple sectors.
Temu, owned by PDD Holdings, has grown rapidly in Europe by offering ultra-low prices on everything from electronics to clothing. But its business model has drawn scrutiny from regulators in Berlin, Paris, and Brussels. The European Commission’s Digital Services Act (DSA) now requires large platforms to conduct risk assessments and take down illegal products swiftly. Cavazzini urged the Commission to enforce these rules rigorously.
What Compliance Would Look Like
For Temu to satisfy EU regulators, experts say it would need to invest in better product testing, transparent supply chains, and local legal representation. The company has already begun hiring compliance officers in Brussels and has pledged to cooperate with authorities. But Cavazzini warned that without independent audits and binding commitments, the risk of recurrence remains high.
The MEP also linked the issue to broader debates about platform accountability. In a separate development, the EU recently banned non-consensual nudifier apps under new AI rules, as covered in EU Bans Non-Consensual Nudifier Apps Under New AI Rules, showing the bloc’s willingness to act against digital harms. “We need the same determination when it comes to physical products that endanger children,” Cavazzini said.
European consumer groups have welcomed the fine but argue that penalties must be backed by structural reforms. Monique Goyens, director of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), noted that “a single fine, however large, will not change a business model built on cutting corners. The Commission must ensure that Temu’s compliance is continuous and verifiable.”
As the EU-China trade relationship grows more complex, with Serbia’s President Vucic defending his country’s Chinese ties during a Beijing visit (see Vucic Defends Serbia's Chinese Ties During Beijing Visit Amid EU Tensions), the Temu case serves as a test case for whether European rules can effectively govern global platforms. Cavazzini concluded: “Europe has the laws. Now we need the enforcement.”
