Senator Seeks Commerce Dept. Probe of E-Commerce Site Temu
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., urged the Commerce Department this week to investigate whether the fast-growing online shopping platform Temu, which is owned by Chinese company PDD Holdings, is violating U.S. trade laws.
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Temu "has quickly gained popularity in the United States, offering a wide range of products at extremely low prices," Scott wrote in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. "However, this rapid expansion raises serious questions about the company's business practices and the origin of its products."
Scott said he’s concerned that “Temu's ability to offer products at significantly lower prices than domestic retailers may indicate unfair trade practices or the exploitation of loopholes in our import regulations. This could severely disadvantage American businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.”
Scott also is concerned about “reports of unsafe working conditions, labor abuses, and human rights violations associated with production of products for Temu.” He said he wants to ensure that products sold on Temu aren’t made with forced labor or other practices that violate international labor standards.
Scott also has concerns about the safety and quality of products sold on Temu, about the privacy and security of data from consumers that use the site, and whether Temu is selling counterfeit goods.
A Commerce spokesperson said the department will respond to the letter "through the appropriate channels." Temu didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also have raised concerns about Temu (see 2404160049 and 2404170031).