Colombia considers new taxes on Shein and Temu to protect local industry

The Third Commission of the Colombian House of Representatives held a public hearing to discuss a legislative proposal aimed at regulating e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. The bill, introduced by Representative John Jairo Berrío, seeks to eliminate tax exemptions and adjust customs frameworks to create a more equitable competitive environment for domestic manufacturers.

Local business leaders, including Arturo Calle, expressed significant concern regarding the impact of these platforms on the national textile, footwear, and leather goods sectors. Calle highlighted a severe price disparity, noting that locally manufactured footwear priced between 200,000 and 300,000 pesos must compete with similar items on these platforms for approximately 40,000 pesos.

Industry representatives argued that the influx of low-cost foreign goods has led to job losses and unfair competition. The proposed legislation aims to safeguard formal employment and address concerns regarding industrial property rights violations on these digital marketplaces.