Fee Transparency and Equity

China’s National Administration for Market Regulation (NAMUR) introduced draft guidelines on May 25 to standardize e-commerce platform fees, aiming to enhance equity and compliance. The 28-article proposal focuses on fee transparency, SME support through flexible pricing, institutionalized compliance audits, prohibitions against exploitative practices, and accountability mechanisms. Following public consultation, full implementation is expected by late 2024. The rules align with broader regulatory efforts to balance innovation and fair competition in China’s $6 trillion platform economy, addressing concerns over algorithmic pricing and fostering sustainable governance amid growing digital transaction complexities, analysts noted.