As consumers globally grapple with rising costs, Chinese online retailers like AliExpress and Pinduoduo’s international counterpart, Temu, are gaining traction with their ultra-low-priced offerings.
Their products are swiftly penetrating retail markets in countries such as the United States and South Korea. However, the allure of affordability is overshadowed by the significant health risks these cheap Chinese goods present.
Between Nov. 6 and Dec. 1 last year, a staggering 142,930 counterfeit items were confiscated. Approximately 90 percent of these items originated from China, with 62.3 percent coming from mainland China and 27.5 percent from Hong Kong. Vietnam accounted for an additional 10 percent.
This surge in counterfeit goods coincided with the peak online shopping season, including major discount events in November. The crackdown targeted various import channels, such as express delivery, postal services, and general imports.
The types of counterfeit goods varied, with clothing, shoes, and bags being the most common. At Incheon International Airport near Seoul, the focus was on fashion items, whereas Incheon Port saw a surge in counterfeit electronic products and food items. Pyeongtaek Port dealt with an influx of fake watches and electronics.
In terms of volume, clothing constituted the largest share at 40 percent, followed by stationery (16 percent), accessories (14 percent), keychains (8 percent), and bags (5 percent). Toys, shoes, and wallets each accounted for 2 percent of the seized items.
The Korean Central Customs Laboratory conducted a detailed analysis of 83 types of skin-contact products, including earrings and leather bags, due to concerns over compliance with safety standards. Shockingly, 30 percent of these products were found to contain excessive levels of lead and cadmium, with some exhibiting lead and cadmium levels up to 930 times the permissible limit.
For instance, among 24 popular fashion items, including counterfeit earrings claiming to be from renowned brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Chanel, 83 percent contained cadmium. Some of these items also had dangerously high levels of lead. In a startling discovery, a counterfeit Chanel brooch had lead levels 153 times above the safety standard.
The study indicated that to cut costs, counterfeit manufacturers not only use cadmium in surface treatments but also incorporate lead and cadmium as primary materials. Of the earrings containing cadmium, 75 percent had levels exceeding the safe limit by 600 times, with some reaching 930 times the permissible amount.
Moreover, several counterfeit bags and wallets were also found to have excessive levels of these harmful metals.
In light of these findings, the Korea Customs Service has issued a stark warning: the distribution and consumption of counterfeit products are not just a matter of intellectual property infringement but pose a “serious threat to health.”
China Tops South Korea’s Online Shopping Market in 2023
In a significant shift, China overtook the United States in 2023 to become the dominant player in South Korea’s cross-border e-commerce market. The development marks the first time China has led South Korea’s overseas online shopping market, reflecting the growing influence of Chinese e-commerce on international retail landscapes.This rise in China’s market share is noteworthy, with the value of Korean consumers’ purchases from China surging by an astounding 106 percent year-on-year, a stark contrast to the modest 9.7 percent increase in purchases from the United States.
These codes, specific to overseas direct purchases, facilitate smoother transactions and customs processes. Purchases from the United States under $200 are exempt from customs duties, while the threshold for other countries is $150.
Adding to the complexity of this issue, Li Yuanhua, a China affairs expert and former associate professor of history at Beijing’s Capital Normal University, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 29 that the low pricing of many Chinese products is not solely due to intellectual property infringements but also the use of banned or toxic substances to cut costs. According to Mr. Li, these products often sacrifice quality, misleading consumers with substandard goods.
Toxic Chinese Products: UK and Japan Incidents Spark Alarm
The issue of substandard and hazardous products originating from China extends far beyond South Korea, affecting numerous countries worldwide. Recent incidents in the United Kingdom and Japan underscore the global reach of this problem.Chloe’s mother recounted the harrowing experience, describing how her daughter felt intense burning and pain shortly after applying the polish. Despite initial home treatment, Chloe developed large blisters and was subsequently diagnosed with severe skin burns at the hospital.
She underwent two skin graft surgeries and was warned of potential lifelong scarring.
The alarming incident led Chloe’s parents to advocate for a ban on the sale of such hazardous products. They revealed that the nail polish was purchased for less than 1 pound (approximately $1.30). Temu offered them compensation in the form of coupons worth £1,750 (about $2,200), but the family has vowed never to use the site again.
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (NCAC) reported on Dec. 13, 2023, that it had received multiple complaints about the cream, including three cases of serious skin damage. The NCAC’s investigation revealed that the cream had a highly alkaline pH level of 14, posing a severe risk of skin damage. Consumers were strongly advised to cease using the product.
These incidents highlight the urgent need for increased vigilance and regulatory oversight to protect consumers from the dangers posed by toxic and inferior products circulating in the global market.
