Beijing pushes back against EU fines to Chinese e-commerce giants
July 23, 2026
China accused the European Union and France of erecting discriminatory trade barriers, warning of possible retaliation after the bloc imposed a €550 million ($628 million) fine on Alibaba Group’s AliExpress, reports Caixin.
The Commerce Ministry said on Wednesday it was “strongly dissatisfied” with the European Commission’s decision and urged European regulators to stop abusing legal discretion. It also criticized a French law aimed at fast-fashion retailers including Shein and Temu, describing it as a discriminatory measure introduced under the banner of environmental protection.
The sharp response reflects rising friction between China and Europe as regulators across the bloc tighten oversight of Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms and low-cost imports.