China lambasts France’s ‘discriminatory’ fast-fashion law

China has urged France to abandon its recently enacted anti-ultra-fast fashion legislation, deeming the measure discriminatory and harmful. The law, effective since Tuesday, imposes fees on certain garments that could accumulate to nearly 20 euros per item, as part of efforts to mitigate environmental and local economic consequences of the fast-fashion industry.

Huang Ling, a spokeswoman for China's commerce ministry, stated at a news conference that China firmly opposes France's push for this trade-restrictive measure. She warned that if France persists, China will employ necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of Chinese businesses. Under the French law, ultra-fast fashion is determined by two factors: the quantity of clothing released into the market and the repair cost relative to the product's purchase price.

The resulting fee per item varies based on how each item performs on these criteria. French e-commerce giant Shein, notorious for its low prices and rapid production cycles, recently made a modest debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, after its initial plans for initial public offerings in New York and London were thwarted. Following the company's shift to Singapore as its headquarters between 2021 and 2022, analysts suggest this move was aimed at sidestepping heightened global scrutiny of Chinese corporations.