Belgium's Prime minister, Bart De Wever, was called to take action against the influx of cheap Chinese e-commerce packages, according to De Tijd on Thursday.
The request came from the Central Council for Business (CRB), which unites trade unions and employers. The CRB is worried about platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.
The number of reported cheap Chinese e-commerce packages surged from 1 million to 3 million in 2024, according to De Tijd.
The CRB asserts that these packages undermine the economy, public health, and industrial resilience because they often contain non-compliant and dangerous products.
Consumer organisations, such as Test Achats, and the Belgian customs support this call for action. Belgian customs face challenges in inspecting the vast number of packages, given Belgium's role as a major logistical hub for Chinese goods into Europe, via the ports of Antwerp and the airport in Liège.
Only a small percentage of packages are inspected, and 40% of those checked do not meet the regulations.
The CRB insists that urgent measures are needed at both the Belgian and European levels. The European Commission is considering a reform of customs legislation, but the CRB calls for immediate steps like strengthening customs enforcement and identifying fraudulent online retailers.
