We call for the abolition of subsidies by EU citizens and fair competition conditions in the fight against Chinese platforms like Temu and Shein. 

On behalf of its retailers, zentrada is calling for the abolition of subsidies due to outdated EU regulations and fair competitive conditions in competition with Chinese platforms such as Temu and Shein.
The indirect EU subsidisation and preferential treatment of direct imports from China to end consumers distorts competition and jeopardises the existence of hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized retailers and online retailers in Europe. 
zentrada has always supported small and medium-sized retailers in the Europe-wide procurement of merchandise. zentrada demands equal opportunities for all retailers in Europe in the battle for customers against platforms from third countries. 
We demand the following from politicians in the short term
- Abolition of the private import VAT exemption and compulsory participation of all external sellers and platforms in global e-commerce
- Declaration of conformity for all products, including privately imported products, and random checks (responsibility of sellers)
- Participation in all disposal concepts and reporting in the recipient countries by sellers and platforms
- Stop of shipping cost subsidisation for shipments from China by the Universal Postal Union
- Registration and reporting of all sellers and sales from third countries within Europe for the purpose of compliant imports into Europe  
- Immediate reduction of the duty-free limit and introduction of a parcel fee for the import of small parcels from non-EU countries
- Rapid increase in customs capacity

We call for this issue to be placed at the top of the agenda of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance and for rapid, effective solutions to be sought. Norway and Sweden have very quickly achieved a reduction in parcel volumes by introducing a parcel fee for small parcels from third countries. 
The Chinese platforms are neither sustainable nor EU-compliant. Ultimately, they are jeopardising the health of our citizens with non-compliant products. Numerous consumer organisations in the EU are already up in arms against this.
Time is pressing, the survival of hundreds of thousands of retailers with millions of jobs in Europe and the consumer protection standards that we have set ourselves in the EU are at stake. 
Support the petition to the EU and politicians with your vote for swift action against uncontrolled and subsidised direct imports from China, which jeopardise our standards.  Please forward this petition to as many colleagues and business partners in the trade as possible!

About the initiator of the petition:
zentrada operates Europe's largest platform for wholesale purchasing of fast moving consumer goods and represents the interests of over 400,000 active retailers. With platforms in 8 languages and local offices in the respective countries, zentrada supports borderless trade within Europe.

About the partners of the petition: 
The Bundesverband Onlinehandel BVOH and the Händlerbund are the leading associations of small and medium-sized online retailers in Germany.