Colombian Exporters Warn of Unfair Competition from Shein and Temu - ColombiaOne.com

ColombiaOne.com Business Colombian Exporters Warn of Unfair Competition from Shein and Temu Colombian Exporters Warn of Unfair Competition from Shein and Temu By Leon Thompson - September 15, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Analdex places particular emphasis on the “direct impact on the formal economy” that this phenomenon is causing in Colombia . Credit reference image: Barranquilla Mayor’s Office Organized merchants in San Victorino, the largest wholesale market in Bogota, have felt how they went from benefiting from Chinese products to seeing them as a threat. Now they are facing the giants Temu and Shein, two fast-commerce internet platforms that move high volumes at prices that are impossible to compete with. In recent days, the conversation was reactivated following a complaint made by councilwoman Cristina Calderon, who said that merchants in the area report a drop of up to 50% in sales and a risk to 23,800 jobs. But that is only one example of the effects of Temu and Shein’s activities. Exporters concerned about Chinese platforms Now it is the National Foreign Trade Association ( Analdex ) that is once again raising its voice to warn about the same issue. The trade association issued a statement protesting the “unfair competition” generated by cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu against the country’s formal economy . For this reason, it called on the control authorities and the National Tax and Customs Directorate ( DIAN ) to use technological tools for the purpose of “curbing illegality and protecting companies that do comply with taxes.” The request submitted to the state supervisory entities specifically seeks to “curb the phenomena of illegality associated with platforms such as Shein and Temu.” Likewise, the trade association’s spokesperson questioned what they describe as an “apparent abuse of international trade instruments that unbalances the rules of the market.” Analdex places particular emphasis on the “direct impact on the formal economy” that this phenomenon is causing in the country. According to the trade association, current dynamics are producing “severe effects on business owners who operate within legality.” It emphasized the inequalities in the industry’s operating conditions, arguing that “those who compete while respecting customs regulations and complying with tax payments are at a disadvantage compared with the operations of these digital models.” Therefore, the request addressed to DIAN insists on using technology as a fundamental resource to contain phenomena of illegality and protect companies that comply with tax payments. The enormous volume of Temu shipments to Colombia The unequal competitive pressure attributed to the growth of the Shein, Temu and AliExpress platforms led Permoda, the country’s largest company in the textile sector and owner of the Koaj brand, to request Fenalco’s support to promote a discussion on controls over international small-package shipments, taxation and competition in the garment industry. The advance of these platforms creates asymmetric competitive conditions compared with formal Colombian commerce, according to a technical document sent to Fenalco president Jaime Alberto Cabal, signed by Koaj’s legal representative and administrative and financial vice president, German Orlando Piedrahita Pena. The report indicates that Temu handles approximately 2.2 million shipments per month to Colombia and cites data according to which around 400,000 kilograms of merchandise enter the country daily through this mechanism. For that company, this is a discussion that goes beyond the particular interests of a company and involves manufacturers, importers, merchants and consumers, which is why it requires a broader sectoral perspective and the participation of the main representatives of formal commerce. In that context, it considers that Fenalco’s support would be decisive in evaluating possible regulatory adjustments related to low-value international small-package shipments, shipment traceability, control of virtual mailboxes and the tariff policy applicable to the sector. See all the latest news from Colombia and the world at ColombiaOne.com . Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow ColombiaOne on Google News, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and subscribe here to our newsletter. Facebook X WhatsApp Linkedin Copy URL Filed under: Business Colombia News Economy News feed Tags #colombia Analdex economy Colombia featured Shein-Temu Colombia THE LATEST IN YOUR INBOX! MORE NEWS FROM COLOMBIA Colombia’s Ambassador to the US Presented her Credentials to Donald Trump Oil Company Ecopetrol Elected Its New Board of Directors More Than Half of Colombia Still Works Informally