US safety regulators are calling for investigations into Chinese-owned e-commerce platforms Temu and Shein after reports last month that the companies were selling dangerous products aimed at babies and young children.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Commissioners Peter Feldman and Douglas Dziak The letter was sent late Tuesday. It called on authorities to investigate Tem and Shain's safety measures, relationships with distributors and consumers, and import practices.
“We seek to gain a better understanding of these companies, particularly their focus on low-value direct-to-consumer (also known as de minimis) sales and the enforcement challenges they face when companies with little or no U.S. presence distribute consumer products through these platforms,” the commissioners said.
The move to investigate Tem and Shane It was reported last month Deadly baby products were easily found on the two e-commerce sites.
The report said Temu's site was selling various types of padded crib bumpers, which were banned by the U.S. Congress two years ago as a choking hazard.
Shein also reportedly sold children's hoodies with drawstrings that US regulators have warned could pose a choking hazard.
“Temu requires all sellers on our platform to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including those regarding product safety,” a Temu spokesperson told The Post in a statement. “Our interests are aligned with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC's) when it comes to protecting consumers and ensuring product safety, and we will cooperate fully with any investigation.”
Shane did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Temu and Shein, Chinese-owned discount retailers that ship direct to the US, have seen their popularity soar thanks to their ultra-affordable merchandise and ability to churn out trendy items.
Shein was founded in 2008 and launched in the US in 2017. Its valuation is reportedly around $66 billion.
Temu, a Boston-based company owned by China's PDD Holdings, was founded and launched in the United States in 2022 and has been racing to catch up with rivals.
Both companies are pouring billions of dollars into advertising: Shein advertises across Google and Facebook, while Temu ran a major ad slot during the Super Bowl last year.
Both companies rely on Chinese supplier chains and are reportedly pitting these suppliers against each other to win the lowest prices.
Their explosive growth has been blamed on the “de minimis exception,” which allows light, low-value packages — Tem and Shane's speciality — to be imported into the U.S. duty-free.
According to the Information, CPSC officials have requested funding to hire staff to monitor Tem and Shane's safety measures.
Both companies have faced lawsuits and allegations of copyright infringement. Temu and Shein are suing each other, accusing rival sites of stealing clothing designs and internal documents.
Lawmakers have accused fast fashion sites of relying on forced labor to mass-produce cheap goods.
