Turkish Competition Authority Raids Temu’s Office Amid Intensifying Crackdown on Chinese E-commerce

ISTANBUL — In a major escalation of regulatory pressure on cross-border shopping platforms, Turkish competition authorities conducted an early morning raid on the Istanbul office of Chinese e-commerce giant Temu on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

A spokesperson for Temu, which is owned by the Chinese conglomerate PDD Holdings, confirmed the raid to Reuters, stating that laptops and other electronic devices were seized as part of an “on-site inspection.” While the spokesperson emphasized that the company would “cooperate fully with the Turkish authorities,” the move has sent shockwaves through the digital retail sector.

Turkey’s Competition Authority (Rekabet Kurumu) later issued a statement clarifying that the action was a “routine inspection” and does not necessarily indicate that a formal investigation has been launched. However, the raid mirrors a similar operation carried out against Temu’s European headquarters in Dublin just weeks ago, where EU regulators expressed concerns over unfair state subsidies and predatory pricing models.

The “De Minimis” Defense: Closing the Gap

This raid is not an isolated incident but rather the latest chapter in Turkey’s aggressive strategy to curb the dominance of Chinese platforms like Temu and Shein. Over the last 18 months, Ankara has systematically dismantled the “de minimis” loopholes that previously allowed these platforms to flood the Turkish market with ultra-low-priced goods.

The “de minimis” threshold refers to the value below which goods can be imported into a country duty-free and with simplified customs procedures. For years, Chinese retailers exploited these limits to ship millions of small parcels directly to consumers, bypassing the heavy taxes and safety inspections faced by domestic Turkish retailers.

Key regulatory steps taken by Turkey include:

• Drastic Threshold Reduction: In August 2024, Turkey slashed the individual duty-free limit from €150 to just €30. This move was specifically designed to target the high-frequency, low-value orders that define the Temu business model.

• Removal of Simplified Customs: As of February 2026, the Turkish Ministry of Trade has officially revoked the right for postal and express courier services to file “Simplified Customs Declarations” for B2C (Business-to-Consumer) imports. Now, almost all commercial e-commerce shipments require a full customs declaration, regardless of their price.

• The “Safety” Justification: Authorities have coupled these tax hikes with stringent health inspections. Recent laboratory tests by the Ministry of Trade reportedly found that a significant percentage of Chinese-origin toys and footwear contained hazardous substances or failed to meet safety standards, providing the legal basis for stricter border controls.

Protecting the Domestic “Mom-and-Pop” Shops

The crackdown has been heavily lobbied for by Turkish industrial groups, such as the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) and various textile associations. They argue that the unchecked rise of Temu and its peers created an unlevel playing field, as local manufacturers must comply with strict labor laws, VAT requirements, and environmental regulations that cross-border platforms often circumvent.

By removing the simplified entry process, Turkey is effectively making it more expensive and time-consuming for consumers to order from abroad. An item that previously cost 500 TL might now see its final price double once full duties, brokerage fees, and VAT are applied at the border.

As the Competition Authority sifts through the data seized today, the industry is watching closely to see if Turkey will follow the U.S. and EU in implementing even broader anti-dumping measures. For now, the raid serves as a clear signal: the era of “frictionless” and duty-free Chinese e-commerce in Turkey has come to an end.