A prominent digital trade organisation in Poland has raised concerns about the competitive imbalance between Chinese e-commerce platforms and European businesses operating within the freight and logistics sector.
The trade body has highlighted that online sellers based outside the European Union have achieved rapid growth by taking advantage of regulatory loopholes in customs procedures and enforcement mechanisms. These gaps, they argue, provide non-EU platforms with significant operational advantages that EU-based companies cannot legally replicate whilst adhering to European regulations.
This disparity has created particular challenges for freight forwarders and logistics providers handling cross-border e-commerce shipments. European businesses face stringent compliance requirements, including detailed customs declarations, VAT collection obligations, and product safety standards, whilst their non-EU counterparts often operate with considerably less oversight.
The trade group’s criticism comes amid growing concerns across the European logistics industry about fair competition in the rapidly expanding e-commerce market. Industry experts suggest that addressing these regulatory inconsistencies is crucial for maintaining a level playing field and ensuring the long-term competitiveness of European freight forwarding companies.