New levy on Chinese ultra-fast fashion in France kicks in today

Bad news! What is this? Government interventionism? Government paternalism? Or is it government trade protectionism?

What is next?

If it is e.g. true that the Chinese yuan is systematically and significantly undervalued due to Chinese currency manipulation, then should this not be addressed first?

"France will from Tuesday impose a fee on ultra-fast fashion items that will eventually reach almost 20 euros per garment, as the government targets major Asian e-commerce platforms including Shein.

The levy follows legislation passed by the French parliament in June to regulate so-called "ultra-fast fashion" companies, known for selling large volumes of lower quality clothing at rock-bottom prices.

It is part of a push to rein in Asian e-commerce giants including Shein, Temu and AliExpress, which have exploded in popularity in France in recent years. ..."

France takes aim at ultra-fast fashion with new levy

France passes watered-down legislation to curb fast fashion "The law aimed at 'reducing the environmental impact of the textile industry' passed its final reading in the Sénat on June 29. Its content underwent numerous revisions over the past two years, particularly to accommodate domestic players in France, while excluding online giants Shein and Temu from those concessions."

Credits: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol against China, Saudi Arabia, and US

Is the long lasting prosperous era of free trade since 1945 coming to an end? Is a spiral of trade protectionism measures building up?

What will come next? A trade war?

Presented as an "anti dumping" measure.

"The European Commission has introduced massive antidumping duties on imports of 1,4-butadiene (BDO), an important intermediate molecule in chemical manufacturing. The provisional duties are 106–114% on all imports originating in China, 52% for all imports from Saudi Arabia and 136–143% on all imports originating in the US. ..."

EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol | Business | Chemistry World "Imports from China, US and Saudi Arabia will see tariffs of 52–143%"

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/270 of 4 February 2026 "imposing provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of 1,4-Butanediol originating in the People’s Republic of China, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America"

1,4-butanediol is a key intermediate and component of in various coatings, polymers and solvents

China to ban use of Check Point products - report

The tit-for-tat between China and the US continues!

China to ban use of Check Point products - report - Globes "China has warned Chinese companies not to purchase cybersecurity solutions of a dozen US and Israeli companies out of concern that national security will be harmed, Reuters” reports."

Tech war: China finds US chip giant Nvidia violated anti-monopoly law

Clearly, China is playing hardball and escalates the trade war between the US and China.

See also my related blog post from two days ago!

"China’s antitrust regulator said on Monday it found Nvidia in violation of the country’s anti-monopoly law and would proceed with further investigation, which could lead to punitive actions against the American chipmaker amid escalating technology rivalry with the US."

Tech war: China finds US chip giant Nvidia violated anti-monopoly law | South China Morning Post "The initial investigation lays the groundwork for Beijing to potentially take further action against Nvidia"

China declares anti-dumping probe into US analog chips

Bad news! A new round in the upward spiral of the current trade war between two of the world's largest economies? Where will this end?

How will the European Union (EU) react?

Reminder: The Communist Party of China has craftily exploited the Western created global free trade system for significant annual net trade surpluses for years. Also called foreign trade dumping! According to Google search: "China has historically run trade surpluses since around 1995, with a significant and growing trend in the 2020s, reaching records over $1 trillion in 2024 and 2025, primarily driven by expanding exports despite slowing import growth."

"China on Saturday announced an anti-dumping probe into imported American analogue integrated circuit (IC) chips and also initiated an anti-discrimination investigation over Washington’s handling of Chinese semiconductors. ..."

China declares anti-dumping probe into US analogue chips | South China Morning Post "Beijing also initiates anti-discrimination investigation over US handling of Chinese semiconductors, a day ahead of latest trade talks"

China-EU trade tensions rise as Beijing levies anti-dumping tariffs on European brandy

Let the trade wars begin or is this still just some tit for tat? This could become serious stuff! Will things get better again before they worsen e.g. in a downward spiral?

Are we entering a new era of trade protectionism like before the Great Depression of the 1930s?

China-EU trade tensions rise as Beijing levies anti-dumping tariffs on European brandy | South China Morning Post "Announcement comes as Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Europe trying to resolve trade disputes, and one analyst says Beijing is ‘clearly disappointed by the EU playing hardball’"

White House announced a trade agreement with Vietnam

Good news!

Were other countries benefiting for a long time from American free trade generosity in the past, while imposing various import restrictions to protect their domestic markets (e.g. non-tariff) on US imports? Quite possible!

"On Monday, the White House announced a trade agreement with Vietnam: a 20 percent tariff on goods imported to the United States, and in return, Vietnam will eliminate all tariffs on U.S. exports. A threatened 46 percent tariff—set to take effect July 9—has been shelved."

Breitbart Business Digest

The European Union’s Due Diligence Directive Must Be Stopped

Food for thought! 

I remember this is not the first time that the EU has come up with outrageous mandates and bureaucratic nightmares like a socialist central planner (e.g. the Precautionary Principle)!

When climate change lunatics rule!

"Most Americans have probably never heard of the European Union’s (EU) recently passed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). According to the EU, the “aim” of the CSDDD “is to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour in companies’ operations and across their global value chains. The new rules will ensure that companies in scope identify and address adverse human rights and environmental impacts of their actions inside and outside Europe.” ...

Under the CSDDD, all U.S. businesses, from multinational corporations to small family farms, would have to adhere to the EU’s environmental regulations that prioritize the mass adoption of expensive and unreliable so-called green energy while restricting the production of abundant, affordable, and reliable fossil fuel energy. ...

In essence, the CSDDD “is a transition plan for climate change mitigation aligned with the 2050 climate neutrality objective of the Paris Agreement as well as intermediate targets under the European Climate Law,” says the EU.

As evidence increasingly shows, the EU’s early adoption of an electric grid primarily fueled by intermittent wind and solar has not been a smooth process. For many years, European countries like Germany have struggled with chronic energy shortages.

A few months ago, the fragility of Europe’s green grid was put on full display when two solar facilities in southwest Spain experienced a sudden and severe drop in power output, which triggered a “complete collapse of the system,”  ...

the EU’s CSDDD represents a non-tariff trade barrier that Trump is intent on eliminating as his team negotiates with EU officials. ..."

The European Union’s Due Diligence Directive Must Be Stopped – RedState

China open to talks with Trump admin on lowering tariffs, Chinese Commerce ministry says

Good news!

"China is "evaluating" an offer from the U.S. to hold talks on tariffs, according to a Friday statement from the Chinese Commerce Ministry. This shift in tone could leave the door open for the world’s two largest economies to deescalate the trade war that has left global markets in turmoil. ...

On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo on "Mornings with Maria" that he believed Beijing was looking to reach an agreement with the U.S. ...

However, the [China] recently waived the tariff on a host of American-made products. 

There were already exemptions for some pharmaceuticals, microchips and aircraft engines, but China added an exemption for ethane imports, according to Reuters. ..."

China open to talks with Trump admin on lowering tariffs, ministry says "Beijing warned that using the talks as a 'pretext to engage in coercion' will not work"

'Only going to get worse': China’s export orders plunge amid trade war with Peter Schweizer

Recommendable!

Google Search, Gmail, Chrome and other services are not available in China by government decree since 2010

Just a reminder!

Thus, the Communist Party of China has already engaged in trade barriers/protectionism to US products over 15 years ago.

China to probe Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger parent firm over Xinjiang cotton

Trade wars can become ugly quickly! Be careful what you wish for! Say they revenge is sweet!

China to probe Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger parent firm over Xinjiang cotton | South China Morning Post "China’s Ministry of Commerce has begun an investigation into PVH Group over what it terms ‘discriminatory measures’ related to Xinjiang"

EU Regulation on Deforestation-free products. A case of environmentalism and trade protectionism?

Using the pretense/pretext/presumption of the Global Warming hoax and Climate Change religion, the EU enforces extreme environmentalism and trade protectionism on the rest of the world. Shame on the EU!

Hopefully, the EU will be sued left and right before the WTO and other courts!

In June of 2023, this EU regulation came into force.

"By promoting the consumption of ‘deforestation-free’ products and reducing the EU’s impact on global deforestation and forest degradation, the new Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products is expected to bring down greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. ..."

Regulation on Deforestation-free products - European Commission

Southeast Asia pushes back on cheap Chinese imports

Chinese dumping of cheap products is not welcome!

"Southeast Asian nations are moving to raise barriers to cheap Chinese goods, especially those arriving via e-commerce platforms.

 

This is creating a dilemma for governments in the region. While retailers and manufacturers are seeking relief from what they see as unfair competition, officials still want Chinese companies to invest in local production, especially in high-tech sectors."

Southeast Asia pushes back on cheap Chinese imports - Nikkei Asia "E-commerce and EVs force balancing between tariffs and pursuit of high-tech investments"

After EU's Tariffs on Chinese EVs, Beijing Investigates European Pork with Palki Sharma

Recommendable!

Battery manufacturer CATL tops China's corporate subsidies list, outranking oil majors

Competing with government subsidies in international trade is a recipe for trouble!

A trade war between EU, US, and China might be looming!

"Leading Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has become the top recipient of state subsidies among all listed mainland companies, highlighting a sharper strategic focus just as such government support draws scrutiny in the West.

 

The list of more than 5,000 businesses had long been dominated by state oil companies, but the latest edition shows an emphasis on EVs and other high-priority tech sectors, such as panels and semiconductors."

CATL tops China's corporate subsidies list, outranking oil majors - Nikkei Asia Emergence of EV-related recipients stands out as European tariffs loom

China bans exports of some rare-earth processing tech

High time for Western countries and other countries to look for new sources. How about e.g. ocean floors?

US Sugar Protectionism considerably Raises the Price of Sweets in America

Excessive Big Government paternalism is an indefensible scourge!

"These [government imposed] constraints on both imports and domestic production have resulted in Americans paying nearly twice the international price of sugar. ..."

US Sugar Protectionism Raises the Price of Holiday Sweets | Cato at Liberty Blog

U.S. rules force South Korea's EV battery makers to rethink China deals

Could this be a form of trade protectionism? Is the U.S. promoting its electric vehicles industry at the cost of South Korea?

Or are these just collateral damages of a new U.S. policy to contain China?

"Proposed new guidelines by the U.S. would classify joint ventures as a foreign entity of concern if a company controlled by China holds a stake of 25% or more in the venture.

This could become a very expensive problem for South Korea's electric vehicle industry, and suppliers as well as makers may soon face a hard choice: either negotiate with Chinese counterparts to reduce their stakes, or, in effect, give up on the U.S. market."

U.S. rules force South Korea's EV battery makers to rethink China deals - Nikkei Asia Washington aims to exclude China from supply chains

Israel to ease food import rules by recognizing EU food regulations

Good news! What is kosher and what is not kosher? Excessive food import restrictions are not kosher! 😊

Protectionism is expensive for Israeli consumers!

"Israel's Ministerial Committee on the Cost of Living will meet later today to approve the decision to recognize EU regulation to allow the Israeli market to fully open to food and toiletries from Europe. Israel's unique bureaucracy and regulation currently blocks imports of many of these items. ..."

Israel to ease food import rules by recognizing EU regulations - Globes Carrefour can currently only import 500 of its 5,000 private label products because Israeli regulation is different from EU regulation.