Turkish competition authorities have executed a significant raid on the Turkish office of the Chinese online retail giant Temu. The operation, which took place early on Wednesday, resulted in the seizure of multiple laptops and computers from the premises.
Full Cooperation Pledged
A spokesperson for Temu confirmed the incident to Reuters, stating unequivocally, "We will cooperate fully with the Turkish authorities." The company, which is owned by the Chinese ecommerce behemoth PDD Holdings, has built a global reputation for selling an extensive range of products—from clothing to smartphones—at exceptionally low prices worldwide.
Antitrust Authority's Silence
At the time of reporting, Turkey's national antitrust authority had not issued an immediate response to requests for comment regarding the motivations or specific legal grounds for the raid. This lack of official statement has left industry observers speculating about the precise regulatory concerns driving the action.
European Precedent
This development in Turkey follows a strikingly similar operation conducted at Temu's European headquarters in Dublin. That raid was initiated by European Union regulators who are actively investigating potential unfair advantages stemming from Chinese state subsidies. The dual investigations highlight growing international scrutiny over the competitive practices of major Chinese ecommerce platforms operating across global markets.
The sequence of events underscores a broader pattern of regulatory attention being directed towards Temu's aggressive market expansion strategies. As authorities in multiple jurisdictions examine the company's operations, the outcomes of these probes could have substantial implications for its business model and international growth trajectory.
