Business organisations Unizo and Comeos are unhappy about closer cooperation between Belgian postal services group Bpost and the controversial Chinese web shop Temu. ‘The government is undermining its own local economy,’ they say. The organisations want the publicly owned enterprises minister Vanessa Matz (Francophone centrist) to intervene as soon as possible. Belgian consumer protection minister Rob Beenders (Flemish socialist) is calling for caution when making purchases from Chinese web shops. ‘Much of that Chinese junk poses a huge health risk’ he says.
Bpost and Temu want to further strengthen their ongoing cooperation in Belgium and Canada. The announcement is remarkable, because Bpost is half-owned by the government. The same government that wants to curb the flow of Chinese parcels from Temu and other web shops based outside the EU.
The cheap goods are so numerous that they are difficult to control when they enter the EU. The government has previously warned about the trading practices of Chinese shops and the quality of their products.
‘Incomprehensible schizophrenic situation’
Business organisations Unizo and Comeos speak of a slap in the face for everyone who does business in this country. ‘The unfair competition and enormous pressure that web shops like Temu are putting on our market is one of the biggest problems facing our economy,’ says Unizo CEO Bart Buysse. ‘Now it appears that the government, albeit via Bpost, will help strengthen Temu’s position and thus undermine its own (local) economy.’
Comeos, an organisation that defends Belgian trade and services businesses, points out that product tests in various European countries show that a large part of Temu's range does not meet European product safety standards. ‘This means that toxic substances, dangerous toys and unsafe electronics are entering Belgian homes unchecked,’
Beenders: ‘Chinese junk poses a huge health risk’
Consumer protection minister Rob Beenders understands the concerns expressed by Unizo and Comeos. ‘More than 90 per cent of electronic products from platforms like Temu do not meet our safety standards,’ he said in response. ‘Much of this Chinese junk poses a huge health risk to ourselves and our children.’
Bpost: ‘Sales opportunities for local players’
In response to the dissatisfaction expressed by Comeos and Unizo, Bpost emphasises that it ‘operates correctly within all legal provisions’. The company also says it supports the demand for additional structural measures to protect European companies from unfair practices by non-European web shops.
According to Bpost, the cooperation plans with Temu concern the further roll-out of their sales platform within Europe. The Chinese company wants to sell more thanks to cooperation with local players.
Bpost notes that it is one of Temu's smaller partners with regard to the delivery of Temu parcels in Belgium. ‘In doing so, Bpost ensures that parcels are transported safely, efficiently and in an increasingly sustainable manner.’