The cooperation of the Polish Post Office with Chinese e-commerce giant Temu caused a real storm in the Polish government. Just a fewer weeks after the partnership was announced, which was to improve transportation for millions of Poles, Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski powerfully opposed the contract, calling the platform "system fraud". The dispute questions the future of inexpensive purchases from China and reveals a deep conflict between the company's business interests and the government's economical strategy. The president of the Polish Post rejects the allegations, claiming that “he does not realize this attack.”
This conflict takes place on respective levels. On the 1 hand, we have the Polish Post Office, which, in partnership with Temu, sees an chance for crucial gross and modernisation of logistics services. On the another hand, there is simply a government that alarms about the demolition of Polish entrepreneurship, flooding the marketplace with dangerous products and losses for the state budget counted in billions. At the heart of the dispute are millions of Polish consumers who can shortly feel the consequences of this political battle.
Poczta Polska i Temu: A controversial deal in the heat of criticism
In early June, Poczta Polska proudly announced closer cooperation with Temu, a platform owned by Chinese company PDD Holdings. The authoritative communication of 3 June stressed that closer cooperation will let seamless logistics integration, and consequently will supply faster and more efficient deliveries to customers across Poland. For a national postal operator, struggling with financial problems, an agreement with a millions of shipments of giants was seen as a strategical step towards profitability.
The 1 created in 2022 rapidly conquered global markets, including Poland. The platform operates on the rule of combining Chinese retailers straight with consumers, eliminating intermediaries. This, combined with aggressive pricing policy and endless promotions, allowed her to compete effectively with specified tycoons as Amazon, eBay or the current leader of the Polish market, Allegro. For the Polish Post, the contract meant a reliable and permanent stream of parcels to be handled for the alleged last mile, i.e. the phase of transportation to the customer's door.
Two days after the alliance was announced, in the face of increasing criticism, The Polish Post Office issued a statement. It explained that cooperation is purely operational and limited to transportation of shipments. The company stressed that not liable for trading policy of platformswhich are utilized by consumers and do not have the power to verify their activities. It was argued that any doubts should be addressed to the applicable public administrations.
Government's on alert. Systemic fraud on an unimaginable scale
The government consequence was immediate and highly acute. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Digitisation Krzysztof Gawkowski categorically opposed the partnership, sending an authoritative letter to the Minister of State Assets. In his public speeches he did not dress up in words, defining the business model of the Chinese platform as a threat to the safety and economy of the country.
"This is not trade, it is deliberate dumping and systemic fraud on an unimaginable scale, which ruthlessly hits the Polish economy and the well-being of our citizens" – the Deputy Prime Minister thundered. Gawkowski stressed that the platform regularly Polish marketplace floods with dangerous and harmful products, including toys for children who may endanger their health. This is simply a powerful allegation that shifts the discussion from economical to public security.
The Minister of Digitalism pointed out that "digital giants must not be allowed to destruct Polish entrepreneurship with impunity". In his opinion, the cooperation of a state-owned company with an entity of specified dubious reputation is unacceptable. He called for the promotion of fair competition and the future of Polish companies, which are incapable to compete with entities bypassing local and EU regulations.
Billions of losses and a regulatory gap. How do Chinese platforms circumvent the law?
The criticism of Deputy Prime Minister Gawkowski touches on the heart of the problem facing the European Union as a whole. It's about mass usage of customs loopholes. Consignments of declared value less than EUR 150 shall be exempt from customs duties, which Chinese platforms usage on a massive scale, frequently knowingly lowering the value of goods on declarations.
The scale of the phenomenon is shocking. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, in 2024 the EU was over 4.5 billion specified packages – twice as many as a year ago. As many as 91% of them came from China. Moreover, the estimates of the European Commission indicate that up to 65% of these shipments can be of undervalue. This means tremendous losses to associate States' budgets for unpaid taxes and duties.
Gawkowski called this practice "real pathology" and called for immediate acceleration of work on EU customs reform. He besides stressed that the European Commission's infringement investigation is already under way. Digital Services Act (DSA). The EC's first evaluation is to be "cruising", accusing the platform of ignoring EU government and flooding the marketplace with illegal products.
The president of the Polish Post corresponds. “I don’t realize this attack”
The president of the Polish Post, Sebastian Mikosz, spoke in specified a powerful criticism. In an interview with the Polish Press Agency, he defined the Ministry's reservations as "political-media emphasis". He stressed that the partnership with Temu brings concrete revenues to the company and has a affirmative impact on its finances, which is crucial in the restructuring process.
“I am a small frustrated and agitated. I do not realize this attack on the Polish Post”, Mikosz said. He asked a rhetorical question why a company whose occupation is to gain must explain its cooperation with a legally functioning client. In his opinion, the attack on the Post Office is easier than the criticism of millions of consumers.
"I would like it to sound loud: it is not the Polish Post that buys on Temu. Almost 20 million Poles do this. They're the ones who make the orders. We only supply the products they buy," the president argued. This line of defence brings the function of Post to being a neutral service provider, cutting off work for the business model and the quality of products offered by its client. This position is in clear conflict with the government's expectations towards the State Treasury company.
What about the packages from Temu? Future of purchases of millions of Poles
A sharp dispute on the government line – Poczta Polska puts the future of deliveries with Temu under a large question mark. The intervention of Deputy Prime Minister Gawkowski in the Ministry of State Acts may lead to force on the Post Office Board to renegotiate or even terminate the contract. Although Post Office defends its business autonomy, its position as a state-owned company makes it delicate to political pressure.
For nearly 20 million Polish users This possible withdrawal of the Polish Post could mean complications. Although it would surely find another logistics partners, the change could affect time and transportation costs. However, the question of broader regulation remains crucial. force to seal customs regulations is expanding throughout Europe.
Regardless of the destiny of the Post Office agreement with Temu, the era of ultra inexpensive purchases from China, based on taxation evasion, seems to be coming to an end. The proposed EU Customs improvement aims to destruct the privilege for tiny packages and to guarantee equal opportunities for European and Polish entrepreneurs. For consumers, this may mean an end to incredibly low prices, but on the another hand, more safety and certainty that the products bought meet EU standards.
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