{
  "id": 10475098,
  "title": "Temu and Shein Challenge the Rules of Colombian Commerce",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/temu-and-shein-challenge-the-rules-of-colombian-commerce",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T15:27:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/09/28/temu-shein-challenge-rules-colombian-commerce/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Temu and Shein are transforming the online shopping landscape in Colombia, while local businesses are calling for clearer tax rules and fairer competition. These platforms offer consumers affordable clothing and other goods at surprisingly low prices, often delivered via international parcels. However, this convenience raises concerns among Colombian business owners about whether sellers are competing under the same rules.\n\nBehind the low prices lies a stark difference in how businesses operate. Temu and Shein, operating internationally, utilize digital tools to promote a wide range of products. In contrast, a shop in Colombia must also factor in costs such as rent, wages, social security contributions, taxes, and import costs. When an overseas parcel receives different tax treatment, the price gap may be more about regulatory rules than operational efficiency.\n\nMaria Fernanda Quiñones, executive president of the Colombian Chamber of E-Commerce (CCCE), highlighted this issue in an interview with Semana on September 28. She argued that Colombia does not offer a level playing field for all market participants. The Chamber is not advocating for the shutdown of these platforms but wants tax rules and policies to reflect the growth of parcel-based shopping and support small businesses.\n\nOne key issue is the concept of 'Minimis,' a customs term for low-value shipments that may qualify for simplified procedures or exemptions. The Chamber argues that rules designed for occasional parcels are no longer fitting in an era of frequent, high-volume international retail. Quiñones emphasized that the exception was initially designed for isolated shipments and noted, \"Everything comes in packages.\" Today, a parcel can be the final step in a carefully orchestrated sales process, handling customer acquisition, payment, and delivery.\n\nThe Colombian tax system differentiates between value-added tax (VAT), which applies to many domestic purchases, and customs duties on certain imported goods. However, confusion arises with the temporary VAT exemption for parcels, which was set at US$50 (approximately COP 171,975) and later reverted to US$200 under Article 428 of the Tax Statute, depending on trade agreements. Customs rules separately grant exemptions from customs duties for certain postal shipments worth up to US$200 (approximately COP 687,900), indicating that parcels below this value are not treated identically in terms of tax.\n\nBusiness groups are seeking clearer rules and an answer on tax collection responsibilities. The route the goods take also plays a role in the dispute. The CCCE questions an interpretation of the trade agreement between Colombia and the United States, which might allow parcels shipped from the U.S. to receive de minimis treatment, even if the product is made in China. According to the Chamber, the place of dispatch should not inherently provide a tax advantage over Colombian-based businesses.\n\nThis competitive gap, according to Quiñones, presents a 20% disadvantage for local businesses, making it challenging to establish the full scale of these shipments. Customs statistics often fail to indicate which app generated an order or which company shipped the goods. Recent estimates by Inexmoda and the Colombia-China Chamber suggest approximately 2.2 million Temu parcels could enter Colombia monthly, raising significant concerns about the impact on local businesses.",
  "summary": "For many people, shopping on Temu or Shein in Colombia starts with an offer that pops up on a phone and feels hard to pass up. A few days later, the order arrives in an international parcel, often at a surprisingly low price. That convenience gives shoppers access to affordable clothing and other goods. It […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}