Recently, with an increasing number of cheap goods from China flooding into the Netherlands, many political parties in the Lower House of Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer) have expressed their desire for the cabinet to take measures to prevent the dumping of Chinese products in the Netherlands.
The trade war initiated by the United States has sparked a debate in the parliament regarding American trade tariffs. Members not only expressed concerns about American trade tariffs but also about the abundance of cheap Chinese goods being sold.
According to statistics from regulatory agencies in March, the volume of goods ordered by the Dutch from foreign online stores increased significantly in 2024, with Chinese online stores being one of the most popular platforms for purchases. This marks the first time that China has become the top country for online orders by the Dutch.
During the debate, Member Christine Teunissen raised concerns about the massive supply of cheap Chinese products leading to unfair competition for European businesses, potentially undermining the quality and sustainability standards in Europe. She called for the cabinet to implement protective measures such as registering suspected dumping goods, increasing customs supervision, and strengthening law enforcement efforts.
This proposal has received support from several key political parties including the Green-Left Alliance (GroenLinks-PvdA), Democrats 66 (D66), Farmers’ Union Party (BBB), and Christian Union (ChristenUnie).
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about cheap goods from China. In 2023, the Goods and Trade Regulatory Agency discovered a large influx of cheap Chinese products into the Netherlands. The then cabinet promptly implemented new regulations to protect the interests of Dutch consumers, especially regarding products with safety hazards. The Ministry of Economic Affairs stipulated that manufacturers or product safety officers must be based within the EU for each product. Otherwise, the product cannot be sold in physical stores or online in the Netherlands. Online platforms are required to remove all similar products if unsafe products are identified. The Ministry stated that the increasing number of online platforms could lead people to purchase flammable, harmful to health, or hazardous products to children.
The regulations also make it easier for consumers to assert their rights and return goods. When consumers return defective products, sellers must offer at least two options: provide a safe alternative of equal value, safely repair the product, or issue a full refund. After a transition period, these regulations came into effect in all EU regions starting December 13, 2024, and have been incorporated into the Dutch “Commodities Act,” enforced by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
Recently, several government oversight agencies have called on the current Minister of Economic Affairs, Dirk Beljaars, to take additional measures to address the influx of goods from Chinese online stores into the Netherlands. Statistics show that in 2024, approximately 1.4 billion parcels entered the Netherlands, doubling from the previous year and eight times the amount in 2021.
The Environmental Monitoring Agency (ILT), Product Safety Supervisory Agency (NVWA), Digital Infrastructure Monitoring Agency (RDI), and Customs Administration jointly stated that the sheer volume of parcels makes individual inspections of products posing risks to consumers an “impossible task.” They pointed out that Chinese cheap goods websites such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress are the primary reasons for the surge in parcel volume. The growing influx of parcels and the safety concerns posed by the products in them are causing “a significant social problem.”
Inspections by regulatory agencies revealed that approximately 85% to 95% of products sold in these stores do not meet European safety standards. The Digital Infrastructure Monitoring Agency found that out of 24 lighting products or smart plugs inspected, only one complied with regulations. In 60% of cases, consumers faced the risk of electric shock. About 5% of fires in 2023 were caused by battery and charger malfunctions, compared to 3% in 2022. Therefore, these non-compliant products pose significant safety hazards.
Moreover, the agency also discovered some products violating European privacy regulations, where photos captured by cheap cameras were unknowingly distributed to countries outside the Netherlands. A spokesperson for the agency advised individuals purchasing items from discounted stores to be more cautious about these risks. “They should look for the CE mark, and if a product seems unbelievably good, it is likely fake.” Manufacturers of these micro-trend products have no presence or agents in Europe, making it impossible for customers to lodge complaints or seek refunds.