Tue, 02 Dec 2025

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 Shein and Temu face calls for investigation over claims of stealing US designs

Two senior US politicians accuse the platforms of malpractice, including intellectual property theft.
Shein and Temu under investigation in US
* Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Shein, focusing on allegations of forced labor, use of hazardous materials, and deceptive marketing practices.
* Senator Tom Cotton called for a federal investigation into Shein and Temu over claims of intellectual property theft.
* Both companies have been accused of copying original designs from American designers and selling them at low prices.
* A US investigation found that a significant proportion of items bought on Shein and Temu were likely counterfeits.
* Cotton labeled both platforms as "Communist Chinese" and accused them of exploiting America's lax customs rules.
* Shein welcomed the investigation and promised to cooperate, while Temu did not respond for comment. Background
* US President Donald Trump abolished a global tariff exemption in August, allowing customs checks on low-cost shipments from China.
* Cotton argued that this change gives law enforcement agencies an opportunity to take action against companies like Shein and Temu.
* The investigation is separate from another probe into Roblox, which Paxton launched in November over safety concerns.
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