Turkish regulators raided the Istanbul office of Chinese e-commerce platform Temu on Wednesday morning, conducting what was described as an “on-site inspection” by the Turkish Competition Authority (RK). While RK did not confirm a formal investigation, the aggressive nature of the raid and tensions between Turkish officials and foreign sellers signal a growing crackdown on China-based online retailers.
The RK denied Temu’s claim that its staff had confiscated company documents and computers, calling that version of events inaccurate. However, the agency declined to provide details, citing the ongoing nature of the examination. RK clarified that its inspection does not equate to a formal investigation but refused to elaborate further.
The raid in Istanbul follows a similar move by the European Union in December, when officials conducted a surprise inspection of Temu’s offices in Dublin. EU regulators are currently investigating whether Chinese state subsidies are being used to unfairly lower the cost of Temu’s products and distort market competition across Europe. The EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation prohibits such practices, which can undercut domestic businesses and flood local markets with underpriced imports.
Turkey has taken similar steps, recently eliminating its duty-free threshold for imported parcels valued under $35. The regulation, set to take effect in February, is expected to severely impact Chinese e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein, which have thrived by exploiting low-cost shipping loopholes. President Donald Trump signed a comparable executive order last July to increase duties on small foreign parcels, part of his broader second-term effort to counteract unfair Chinese trade practices.
Turkish business owners and trade unions have long voiced concerns about the impact of Temu’s ultra-cheap imports, which often sidestep safety and quality regulations that domestic producers are forced to follow. Turkey Today reported that Temu only opened its Istanbul office in June 2025 under pressure from the Turkish Trade Ministry. The company attempted to ease tensions by integrating Turkish producers into its digital marketplace, a move aimed at portraying Temu as a local partner rather than a foreign disruptor.
Temu’s rapid growth across Turkey has not softened criticism from Turkish retailers who say the platform is eroding their market share and bypassing regulatory controls. The outcome of RK’s inspection could have broader implications for the role of Chinese e-commerce in Turkey and the enforcement of trade fairness rules. Turkish officials appear to be aligning more closely with Western regulators in targeting state-supported foreign corporations that threaten local industry.
