The Turkish Competition Authority carried out an early-morning raid on online retailer Temu’s Istanbul office on Wednesday (21 January), the regulator and a company spokesperson said, as scrutiny of the Chinese-owned platform’s business model intensifies.
The authority said it conducted an “on-site inspection” at Temu’s Istanbul office but stressed that this did not mean a formal investigation had been launched.
According to a Temu spokesperson, the company will “cooperate fully with the Turkish authorities”, although the reason for the raid was not specified. The spokesperson also said devices, such as laptops and computers, had been taken from the office.
The Turkish Competition Authority denied Temu’s claim that these items were seized during the inspection, saying the statement “does not reflect the truth.”
“In order to ensure that the examination currently under way can proceed properly … it is not possible at this stage to share further information,” the competition authority added.
Temu had registered a local entity in Türkiye last year and opened an office in Istanbul soon after.
The move follows a raid on Temu’s European headquarters in Dublin in December 2025, which formed part of a broader probe into potential unfair Chinese state subsidies.
Owned by Chinese e-commerce group PDD Holdings, Temu sells a wide range of low-cost Chinese goods, from clothing to smartphones, to consumers worldwide, promoting itself with the slogan “Shop like a billionaire”.
Like its competitor Shein, the platform ships products directly from China, benefiting in many markets from duty-free thresholds on low-value parcels.
The rapid expansion of cut-price Chinese e-commerce platforms has triggered a backlash from European retailers, who argue the companies enjoy an unfair competitive advantage. The European Union has agreed to abolish its duty-free allowance on parcels valued under 150 euros.
Türkiye has also moved to tighten controls. Earlier this month, the government scrapped its 30-euro duty-free allowance, citing the need to protect local production and competition, as well as concerns over the health and safety of imported e-commerce goods. The new rules are due to take effect in early February 2026.
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