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Türkiye’s Competition Authority confirmed Wednesday that it carried out an “on-site inspection” at the Istanbul office of Chinese online retailer Temu.
While the agency did not disclose the reason for the visit, it emphasized that this step does not indicate the initiation of a formal investigation.
The development comes amid mounting scrutiny of Chinese e-commerce platforms, as regulators across Europe and beyond tighten rules on low-value imports, raise concerns over product safety, and seek to ensure fair competition with local businesses.
Temu acknowledged the inspection in an earlier statement to Reuters, saying it would "cooperate fully with the Turkish authorities." A company spokesperson said laptops and computers were taken during the visit; however, the Competition Authority refuted this, stating that the claim "does not reflect the truth."
Temu established a local presence in Türkiye in June 2025, following pressure from the Trade Ministry to register a domestic entity, in line with new regulations requiring all foreign-based digital marketplace operators to appoint a legal representative within the country. The platform also began onboarding Turkish sellers, allowing them to list products on the platform and reach a broader customer base through its cross-border logistics network.
The inspection comes as regulatory pressure on Chinese e-commerce platforms intensifies across Europe. In December, authorities carried out an enforcement action at the company’s European headquarters in Dublin amid concerns over possible unfair state support from China.
Temu, owned by China’s PDD Holdings, offers a broad selection of low-cost products, from clothing and household goods to electronics, shipped directly from China to consumers around the world.
Since its launch in 2022, the platform has expanded rapidly, reaching 416 million monthly active users and generating an estimated $70.8 billion in annual sales as of 2024.
Similar to fellow Chinese retailer Shein and AliExpress, Temu takes advantage of customs duty exemptions for low-value shipments in many countries, which enables it to undercut local sellers. However, its business model has drawn increasing scrutiny from governments over concerns about its impact on domestic producers and potential safety risks associated with imported goods.
In response to complaints from European retailers, the EU recently decided to scrap its duty-free threshold on parcels valued below €150 ($176). Following the EU’s move, Türkiye’s Trade Ministry also announced earlier this month that it would abolish its €30 duty-free exemption for e-commerce imports by February, citing complaints from domestic producers over unfair competition and tests that revealed serious health risks in products imported through these platforms.
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