{
  "id": 12588956,
  "title": "Regjeringen tar Temu-grep",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/regjeringen-tar-temu-grep",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T09:02:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "E24 Norway",
    "slug": "e24-norway",
    "url": "https://e24.no/naeringsliv/i/773wm3/regjeringen-tar-temu-grep"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Norwegian government, in its proposal for the 2027 state budget, has decided to reduce the duty rate on clothes and textiles. This move has left the Norwegian clothing industry feeling apprehensive. When importing clothes, they must pay textile duties to the Norwegian state, plus VAT when the clothes are sold to Norwegian customers. Foreign online stores like Temu and Shein still need to pay VAT, but they are exempt from duty on items under 3,000 kroner. This so-called VOEC-order took effect on January 1, 2024, raising the threshold from 350 kroner. The order means Norwegian consumers pay VAT to foreign online stores, who in turn pay the Norwegian state. In return, stores sell duty-free to Norwegians for up to 3,000 kroner. The order has faced criticism for being anti-competitive, harming Norwegian companies. Specifically, clothing stores that must pay textile duties on their imports. The government now proposes to reduce the duty rate from 10.7 to 5 percent. Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg stated in a press release that lowering the duty rate will strengthen the competitiveness of Norwegian stores and reduce the unfair advantage online shopping currently enjoys. This will result in a loss of about 675 million in state revenue. This step is in the right direction, and recognizes that textile duties are anti-competitive, says Jarle Hammerstad, the leader of policy at Virke. However, why settle for half-measures? We hope the Storting will follow up and eliminate the entire duty, he told E24. The same sentiment came from Johnny Ottesen, CEO of Voice Norge, which represents companies like Match, Vic, and Boys of Europe. He has previously described the tax regime as \"subsidizing fast fashion.\" With this solution, the ongoing anti-competitive advantage will remain significant in favor of Temu, Shein, and other international online platforms with duty-free status. The textile duty was introduced in the past to protect the Norwegian textile industry, which is now marginal. The Finance Department writes that the tax \"has little impact on Norwegian production.\" When it does apply, the result is \"unnecessary bureaucracy and administrative costs.\" The department writes that the government shares concerns about the increasing import of low-quality clothes. However, the duty is not the most effective tool to regulate this import, as it is not designed based on the clothes' lifespan or production method. Duty rates as a percentage of import value make the cheapest clothes with the least durability the cheapest in terms of duty.",
  "summary": "Klesbransjen er fortsatt ikke helt fornøyd.",
  "key_points": [
    "Norwegian government proposes reducing duty rate on clothes and textiles from 10.7% to 5%",
    "VOEC-order exempts foreign online stores like Temu and Shein from duty on items under 3,000 kroner",
    "Critics argue the duty is anti-competitive, harming Norwegian clothing industry"
  ],
  "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."
}