China criticizes France's new anti-fast fashion law

China has intensified its criticism of France's new anti-fast fashion law, which went into effect on September 1, 2026. Huang Ling of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that the regulation could violate World Trade Organization (WTO) non-discrimination principles and serves as a trade barrier under the guise of environmental and sustainability goals.

The French law imposes an environmental surcharge, known as a ‘malus,’ on companies classified as ‘ultra-fast fashion’ providers. This classification is determined by factors such as the volume of garments released, production speed, and whether product prices are so low that repairs are impractical.

China has warned that it will take necessary steps to protect the legitimate rights and interests of its companies if France persists with the implementation. Beijing noted that Chinese businesses face significant operational losses and warned that French consumers could also be negatively impacted.