With a new record in 2024 of 2,390 billion euros, exports are the essential engine of Chinese growth. Given the prohibitive customs tasks in the US market (145%) and a new taxes on small packages, China will look for new points of sale. “One of our market vendors that has 30% of its activity carried out in the United States from a production in China says that it is concerned about its alternative points of sale,” confirms Thomas Metivier, CEO of Cdiscount, the French electronic commerce actor.
Macroly, the risk of a significant influx of Chinese products in the European market is undoubtedly. “Clearly, the US market is closed, Nicolas Doeze analyzes on BFM businesses. The commercial aggressiveness of the Chinese is real. They want to establish in Europe, it is obvious.”
An already installed Chinese increase
In fact, the increase in Chinese products has already arrived in Europe. The figures speak for themselves. 4.6 billion plots entered the European market last year, and nine out of ten came from China. Temu and Shein, which make 4.8 billion sales in France. These two platforms represent a quarter of the plots treated by mail.
“We are being completely looted by the Chinese,” warns this Friday, visibly raised, Yves Jégo, former Minister of Commerce at the BFMTV set. The former minister points out that this influx is possible thanks to exemptions below the threshold of 150 euros from which Chinese packages benefit.
Risk of pouring strategies
If China continues its low -cost offensive, the consumer will find an advantage. “For the consumer, it is favorable in the short term that there will be a price reduction effect with more promotions,” he says, realistic, the CDSPOUNT CEO.
But beyond healthy competition, China could make it possible to artificially reduce its prices. “The ability of the Chinese to reduce prices, even to practice the dumping, we know it. The tide of photovoltaic panels in Europe killed the European sector,” Nicolas Doze recalls.
“The dangerous element is the download strategies, in wind, photovoltaic, aluminum turbines, and there you enter a completely unfair competition,” abounds in Thomas Metivier. In fact, China could be exempt from the WTO rules and subsidize its export companies to preserve them economically.
“France is not losing”
Pushed to the extreme, this configuration could continue weakening the European industrial fabric. Michael Troe Mate this pessimistic vision. “If we always take the example of textiles, we import products with low margin, without added value and, above all, without any strategic value for which we do not have direct competition. On the contrary, we export luxury products to China that cost expensive, therefore, France is not lost! What is needed is a differentiated industrial strategy according to our strategic sectors.”
Another concern is the absence of compliance with European rules, especially environment or forced labor. “The platforms that develop at high speed do so, ignoring a large number of European rules. […] The competition is very positive, but it must be loyal, says Thomas Metivier. If it is not yet, it will not be more. “
Source: BFM TV
