Austrian coalition demands fair competition in online trade

A broad coalition of Austrian organizations, including Caritas Wien, FAIRTRADE Österreich, the Handelsverband, Clean Clothes Campaign, GLOBAL 2000, and Südwind, has issued an open letter calling on the Austrian government to advocate for fair competition in online trade.

The alliance warns of a growing imbalance between domestic companies and large international platforms or direct shippers from third countries. While Austrian businesses must comply with strict regulations regarding product safety, consumer protection, taxes, environmental standards, and labor rights, goods from third countries often enter the European market with insufficient oversight. In 2025 alone, 5.9 billion low-value shipments (under 150 euros) were imported into the EU.

The coalition demands increased personnel and technical resources for customs and market surveillance authorities to close existing loopholes. They also call for the accelerated development of a planned European customs data center to improve the exchange of shipment and risk data across the EU, allowing for more efficient identification of suspicious goods.