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Competition Watchdog: E-commerce Platforms Must Allow Shipping Choice, Notify Fee Hikes

Competition Watchdog: E-commerce Platforms Must Allow Shipping Choice, Notify Fee Hikes

Matichon•Economy•34d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's Office of the Trade Competition Commission is mandating that E-commerce platforms allow users to choose their own shipping providers and provide advance notice for any fee increases.

  • •The OTCC received complaints from E-marketplace sellers regarding forced shipping provider selection.
  • •This practice may violate the Trade Competition Act B.E. 2017 by unfairly restricting competition.
  • •A new announcement will provide guidelines for fair practices on multi-sided platforms, including shipping choice and fee notification.

Overview

  • •On March 10, the OTCC received complaints from E-marketplace sellers.
  • •Asst. Prof. Dr. Wisit Wongsinsirikul stated that platforms forcing shipping choices may violate the Trade Competition Act B.E. 2017.
  • •Lawyer Ananchai Chaiyadech, representing sellers, submitted a letter to the OTCC.
  • •Sellers are experiencing increased costs and delivery time issues due to mandated shipping providers.
  • •Many major digital platform operators are foreign, potentially impacting domestic businesses.
  • •A new announcement on guidelines for multi-sided platforms is awaiting publication in the Royal Gazette.
  • •The upcoming announcement will require platforms to allow shipping provider selection and provide advance notice for fee hikes.
  • •The OTCC will expedite fact-finding and proceed with the complaint process.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Matichon (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Asst. Prof. Dr. Wisit Wongsinsirikul
"The OTCC will expedite fact-finding and proceed with the complaint process."
สำนักงาน กขค. จะเร่งแสวงหาข้อเท็จจริงและดำเนินการตามกระบวนการรับเรื่องร้องเรียน
Asst. Prof. Dr. Wisit Wongsinsirikul
"Therefore, I want everyone to be confident that the OTCC will proceed according to legal procedures."
จึงอยากให้ทุกคนมั่นใจว่า สำนักงาน กขค. จะดำเนินการตามกระบวนการขั้นตอนทางกฎหมายต่อไป

Key Entities

Organization

Office of the Trade Competition Commission(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการการแข่งขันทางการค้า)ℹ️
The Thai government agency responsible for ensuring fair trade practices and competition.
E-marketplace(E-Marketplace)
Online platforms facilitating the buying and selling of goods, subject to new competition regulations.
Ananchai Chaiyadech Law Company Limited(บริษัท กฎหมายอนันต์ชัย ไชยเดช จำกัด)
The law firm representing E-marketplace sellers in their complaint to the OTCC.
Anti-Corruption Journalists Association (Thailand)(สมาคมผู้สื่อข่าวต้านคอร์รัปชั่น (ประเทศไทย))
An association that, along with a law firm, supported E-marketplace sellers in lodging a complaint to the OTCC.
Trade Competition Commission(คณะกรรมการการแข่งขันทางการค้า)ℹ️
The commission overseeing trade competition in Thailand, which will issue guidelines for E-commerce platforms.

Person

Asst. Prof. Dr. Wisit Wongsinsirikul(ผศ. ดร.วิษณุ วงศ์สินศิริกุล)
Secretary-General of the Office of the Trade Competition Commission, commenting on E-marketplace platform practices.
Lawyer Ananchai Chaiyadech(ทนายอนันต์ชัย ไชยเดช)
Legal representative for E-marketplace sellers complaining about unfair trade practices.

Law

Trade Competition Act B.E. 2017(พ.ร.บ. การแข่งขันทางการค้า พ.ศ. 2017)
The Thai legislation governing fair trade and competition practices, potentially violated by E-marketplace platform actions.