The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the United States released a joint statement on Tuesday (September 3) calling for an investigation into the e-commerce retailers Shein and Temu for selling “deadly infant and child products” on their websites.
The CPSC commissioners Peter Feldman and Douglas Dziak are urging the agency to investigate Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu to determine how these foreign-funded enterprises, relying on overseas suppliers, are meeting their obligations under the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act.
Feldman and Dziak emphasized that manufacturers, retailers, importers, and distributors of consumer products fall within the jurisdiction of the commission, whose responsibility is to protect consumers and prevent them from facing unreasonable risks of harm.
The two commissioners expressed specific concerns regarding Shein and Temu, stating, “We know that recent media reports have indicated that it is easy to find deadly infant and child products on these platforms. We have also noted reports indicating that thousands of Chinese factories and suppliers have joined Shein and Temu’s supply chains, offering cheap Chinese-made goods, including t-shirts, handbags, electronic products, and kitchenware.”
They called on the commission to further examine the supply chains of Shein and Temu, particularly the widespread use of the “de minimis” provision and the enforcement challenges the U.S. faces regarding these enterprises.
As the commission determines its priorities for the coming year, the two commissioners expressed the hope that the agency’s staff will conduct further investigations into the safety and compliance of these two Chinese enterprises.
Critics of Shein and Temu believe that the success of these platforms in the U.S. stems from low prices and the exemption from the “de minimis” rule. Through this provision, many Chinese goods can enter the U.S. virtually unchecked and without tariffs.
Under current trade regulations, goods valued at less than $800 imported from abroad can enter the U.S. duty-free. Many Americans returning from overseas trips use the de minimis rule for personal shipments, but critics argue that companies like Temu and Shein have abused this provision.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced a bill seeking to eliminate the de minimis rule. The number of packages entering the U.S. through this provision last year exceeded 10 million. A report from the U.S. House of Representatives’ Special Committee on China indicated that Temu and Shein alone may account for nearly one-third of these packages.
In a separate development, the European Union has proposed to abolish the €150 (approximately $162) import duty threshold, with implementation expected to begin in March 2028.