Shein Hires Ex-EU Official to Bolster Lobbying as IPO Nears

(Bloomberg) — Shein has enlisted a former top European Union official to bolster its lobbying efforts across the region, taking a more active stance toward potential regulatory scrutiny as it plans a stock market debut in London.

The online fashion retailer hired former EU budget commissioner Günther Oettinger as a consultant to help it navigate the bloc’s policy environment, a company representative told Bloomberg News. Shein faces a raft of issues including a debate on whether to impose customs duties on cheap parcels — a potential game-changer for Shein and other low-cost online retailers like PDD Holdings Inc.’s Temu.