A PYMNTS Company

Germany Launches Antitrust Probe into Temu’s Pricing Practices

By  |  October 8, 2025

Germany’s competition regulator has opened an investigation into Chinese e-commerce platform Temu to determine whether the company is exerting undue influence over how third-party merchants set prices on its marketplace. According to Reuters, the Federal Cartel Office announced the proceedings on Wednesday, citing possible restrictions on competition.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The inquiry targets Whaleco Technology Limited, the Dublin-based entity operating Temu in Germany. Andreas Mundt, president of the Federal Cartel Office, stated that authorities suspect Temu may be enforcing “inadmissible requirements” on pricing. He warned that such actions could limit fair market competition and lead to higher prices across other sales channels, per Reuters.

    Read more: Judge Tosses Key Temu Claims in Antitrust Fight with Shein

    Temu, which has rapidly grown across Europe, said in a statement that it complies with local laws and regulations wherever it operates. “We are confident that any related concerns can be successfully resolved,” the company said in an email cited by Reuters.

    The platform, known for offering a wide range of discounted consumer goods, has been accessible to German merchants for about a year, Mundt noted. The regulator also reported that Temu now counts 19.3 million active users in Germany, while more than 100 million consumers use its online marketplace each month across Europe, according to Reuters.

    Source: Reuters