Lorraine Williamson
Why are some of the cheapest products arriving at Spanish doorsteps raising red flags among the country’s biggest retail chains? That question has pushed Spain’s leading retailers to file a formal complaint, warning that millions of items entering the country via Shein, Temu, and AliExpress may be unsafe, poorly regulated, and economically destabilising.
Spain’s largest retail association, Anged, which represents names such as El Corte Inglés, Carrefour, Alcampo, Ikea, and Fnac, has accused Chinese platforms of operating outside the rules that bind European businesses. Their warning comes as Europe faces an unprecedented flood of ultra-cheap goods — a trend reshaping shopping habits and straining long-established consumer safeguards.
A rising tide of unchecked imports
Retailers argue the issue has now reached a critical point. Anged estimates that 1.4 billion parcels from these platforms now enter Europe every year. The problem, they say, is not the sheer volume, but the lack of oversight over what’s inside them.
Behind the low prices, Anged warns, are products that frequently bypass EU quality checks. Reports shared by the organisation mention toxic materials in textiles, unsafe electronic components, and goods that fail to meet mandatory EU safety standards.
Matilde García Duarte, Anged’s president, describes the situation bluntly: “This is not only unfair competition — it’s inadequate protection for consumers.”
The concern mirrors a wider European debate about how digital marketplaces can ship vast quantities of goods with minimal inspection, undercutting the rigorous compliance framework that governs EU-based retailers.
Retailers push for urgent government action
Spain’s Ministry of Industry has held discussions with Anged, but retailers insist little has changed. The sector is now urging Madrid and Brussels to launch a formal investigation into the practices of Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.
Anged argues that, while European retailers must comply with strict product testing, environmental rules, labour laws, and taxation, these platforms can exploit low-value import exemptions and lighter customs routines.
For Spanish chains facing rising costs, this creates — in their words — a “distorted market” that punishes companies playing by the rules.
García Duarte insists the time for warnings has passed: “Good intentions won’t fix this. Only enforcement will.”
Unfair competition reshaping Spain’s retail landscape
Online marketplaces have transformed Spain’s shopping culture. Shein and Temu, in particular, have seen explosive growth due to rock-bottom prices and aggressive social-media marketing. But Anged argues the playing field has never been level.
Traditional retailers must absorb the expense of maintaining physical stores, paying staff, meeting environmental rules, and passing regular inspections. Meanwhile, many overseas sellers operate within loopholes in the EU’s customs and tax regime.
As long as the imbalance persists, established retailers fear a slow erosion of the domestic sector — from jobs to supply chains to high-street vitality.
The slow disappearance of Spain´s Chinese bazaars
A warning to consumers: cheap can come at a cost
Anged stresses that the debate is not only about protecting businesses. Consumers are also at risk. Cases of children’s clothing containing harmful dyes, counterfeit electronics, and products lacking basic safety certification have already circulated through several European countries.
The organisation urges shoppers to consider what sits behind extremely low prices — and calls for greater transparency on product origins, safety testing, and compliance.
For now, the sector wants Spain and the EU to tighten border checks, track non-compliant sellers, and require online platforms to meet the same safety obligations as European stores.
Why this matters for Spain
Spain’s retail industry is a major employer and a pillar of its consumer economy. If the market continues shifting towards unregulated imports, retailers warn that both economic stability and consumer safety could be compromised.
The coming months will show whether national and EU authorities move to reinforce controls — or whether Spanish households will continue receiving billions of parcels whose contents remain largely unchecked.
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What to watch next
The European Commission is already reviewing cross-border e-commerce rules as part of its digital marketplace reforms. If Spain pushes for tougher inspections, it may accelerate broader EU efforts to close loopholes and strengthen online product safety. For consumers, the debate is likely to shape how — and where — they shop in the years ahead.
Source: El Economista