China regulates online platform fees, seeks public input

The State Administration for Market Regulation has released a draft "Compliance Guidelines for Charging Behavior of Online Trading Platforms" for public comment. This aims to regulate fees charged to merchants on these platforms. The guidelines address fair and transparent charging practices, encouraging platforms to reduce burdens on merchants, especially small businesses. They also emphasize self-regulation, including risk assessment and compliance checks, and outline prohibited unfair charging practices. The Administration will refine the guidelines based on public feedback, aiming to implement them soon to further regulate platform fees and promote the healthy development of the platform economy.