Thailand seeks feedback on e-commerce fees and delivery choices
Draft rules would prevent platforms from penalising sellers for using alternative couriers, but would not set a uniform commission cap.
Thailand’s Office of the Trade Competition Commission (OTCC) has opened consultation on proposed e-commerce rules covering fees and delivery choices. Public feedback is being accepted from November 4 to December 3, according to deputy government spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana.
The proposals would prevent platforms from requiring sellers to use their delivery operations, affiliates or logistics partners as a condition of platform access or sales benefits. Sellers could arrange deliveries themselves or hire outside providers, provided they meet necessary safety and shipment-tracking requirements.
Platforms would also be barred from penalising sellers solely for choosing another logistics provider. Prohibited measures would include reducing product visibility, charging higher fees, removing certification badges, excluding sellers from promotions or holding up payments.
Under the draft, platforms would have to make delivery prices, timeframes and key conditions clear, without hiding alternatives or making them difficult for buyers to select. They could not favour their own or partner delivery businesses through default settings. Any necessary default would need disclosed selection criteria and an easy way for buyers to switch.
The fee provisions would require clear disclosure of commissions and charges for payments, advertising, promotions, delivery and warehousing. Charges would have to be justified and proportionate to the services sellers receive. The draft would neither establish a single cap on commissions or gross profit (GP) fees nor mean that charges would fall immediately.
Lalida said the government viewed fairness in e-commerce as extending beyond fees to sellers’ delivery choices and access to customers. Consumers should also be able to compare delivery costs and times transparently, she said.
