BANGKOK, Thailand – The government is reviewing online marketplace regulations to ensure fairer competition for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The review will examine platform fees, product rankings, and recommendation strategies that influence how easily smaller businesses can reach customers and compete with larger sellers.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun chaired a meeting on October 29 to discuss these concerns. She explained that businesses with larger advertising budgets often get greater product visibility, which could put SMEs at a disadvantage. While paid promotions are common in online commerce, the government wants to ensure that ranking systems and related fees do not create unfair trading conditions.
The administration has also approached Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok about reducing fees for SME sellers, and all three platforms have responded positively. However, they have not yet announced specific reductions or implementation dates. These discussions follow earlier efforts to address delayed payments to smaller suppliers and rising online sales costs.
Suphajee has assigned seven government agencies, including the Commerce Ministry, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, and the Office of the Trade Competition Commission, to review existing laws and identify regulatory gaps. The study will also examine international practices to improve transparency, protect fair competition, and allow Thailand’s digital economy to keep growing. (NNT)
