China seeks public feedback on draft amendment to e-commerce law

China's State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Commerce began soliciting public opinions on a draft amendment to the country's e-commerce law Saturday.

The draft amendment contains 20 provisions, including those aimed at broadening the law's regulatory scope. In addition to platforms and in-platform merchants, it would further clarify the rights and obligations of other participants in the platform economy.

It highlights the need to improve the liability framework for platforms, calling for a wider range of regulatory tools and stronger support for routine oversight.

Targeting cross-sector operations in the platform economy, the draft amendment calls for stronger coordination among regulators. Measures include applying consistent oversight to both online and offline businesses and strengthening cross-department collaboration.

To tackle serious illegal practices in the e-commerce sector, the draft amendment would revise relevant provisions in response to public concerns.

It also proposes steps to deepen opening-up and cooperation in the sector by promoting alignment with international rules and standards, encouraging industry self-discipline and orderly overseas expansion, and adding measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of companies.

The two authorities said that they will optimize the draft amendment in light of public feedback and work to advance the revision as soon as possible, providing a strong legal foundation for innovation and sound development in the platform economy.

Promoting innovation and sound development in the platform economy is a key task set out in the outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). The outline calls for stronger oversight of platform companies' data and algorithms, as well as their traffic and operating rules, while underscoring the need to foster mutually beneficial development among enterprises, merchants and workers. ■