This book examines how consumers are protected on the online marketplace in the context of ASEAN countries. While many sectors have been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, e-retailing is one of the booming sectors during this period. Actually, the e-retailing sector was already booming even before the global pandemic. Although e-retailing offers many opportunities for businesses and consumers, there are several issues associated with e-consumer protection. This book examines how consumers are protected on the online marketplace in the context of ASEAN countries. Specifically, this project: (i) Discusses the six issues of e-consumer protection (e.g., information about transaction, product quality, privacy, security, redress, and jurisdiction); (ii) Examines the policy/governance approach adopted by different sectors to address the issues of e-consumer protection; and (iii) Proposes a multi-sector governance framework for e-consumer protection. Three short case studies on Lazada in Singapore, Shopee in Vietnam, and Zalora in Malaysia are also included to illustrate how well-known e-retailers protect their e-customers. Overall, this book is interdisciplinary, including research on consumer protection, governance, management, and policy/regulation. It provides sources of information and knowledge which focus on both theoretical and practical aspects of e-consumer protection in ASEAN countries. Also, the roles from different sectors are examined to produce comprehensive findings and analysis of the governance process.

This book advances the international debate on the development of e-commerce with focus on emerging ASEAN economies. It provides readers insights on Asia’s needs and efforts to improve the regional legal and economic conditions to support e-commerce. This book looks at the rules and regulations on e-commerce, and e-commerce for inclusiveness growth. It provides insights from several ASEAN member states and discovers the requirements for Asian countries to better grasp the new juncture of growth associated with economic digitalization, which also have deep implications on continuous regional integration and community-building.

This book looks at the consumer protection offered in a range of Asian countries, for example China, Japan, and South Korea in key areas such as consumer sales law, unfair terms, product liability, and unfair commercial practices. However, it is interesting to note that consumer protection is on the rise everywhere and to compare how this differs depending upon the legal cultures. It is also fascinating to reflect on the influence of models for law reform such as the EU laws. ASEAN has also affected the development of consumer policy for its member states. The book takes the form of national reports which explain the development of the law and also shed light on how the law works in practice. The book also contains thematic reports which look at each area of the law from a comparative perspective. Commentators from around the globe reflect on their impression of Asian consumer law based on their own differing legal systems and benchmarks. A must-read for anyone with an interest in consumer law in Asia and beyond, this book will form the basis of further research and discussion internationally.

Digital trade promotion has been a long-standing priority for CAREC member countries, as part of their integration into global value chains and economic diversification. This study examines the legal environment on electronic transactions as well as the opportunities and challenges in expanding electronic commerce in the CAREC region. It makes a case for modernization and harmonization of laws of CAREC countries leveraging on international instruments and best practices for electronic commerce transactions. Adequate legislation to protect personal privacy and consumers’ rights and combat cybercrime is also crucial. Finally, institutions must be built with trust, within and among countries and through regional cooperation.

This report is part of a broader work program on shaping a more positive narrative on regional integration in South Asia. It is a follow-up to a recent flagship report published by the South Asia Region of the World Bank, A Glass Half Full: The Promise of Regional Trade in South Asia. E-commerce is dramatically changing the way goods and services are transacted nationally, regionally, and globally. It facilitates international trade by reducing the cost of distance and remoteness and can be more inclusive of underrepresented groups such as women, small businesses, and rural entrepreneurs. Intraregional trade in South Asia is still below its potential, and the region lags behind other parts of the world in activating the potential benefits from e-commerce. Adopting a novel yet practical approach, this report explores how e-commerce can be boosted to deepen intraregional trade in South Asia. It examines the main transacting models in the digital space and the channels through which e-commerce helps reduce transactions costs for firms and consumers. It considers the regulations, as well as the regulatory gaps, affecting private sector participation in e-commerce, focusing on data privacy, consumer protection, delivery, cybersecurity, market-access regulations, and digital payments. Finally, the report presents recommendations for regulatory reforms that could enhance e-trade, especially in a regional context and as a possible platform for greater global engagement by South Asian firms. The scale of these recommendations ranges from the modest, such as allowing cross-border payments and streamlining the customs regime, to the more ambitious, such as allowing the operation of regional e-commerce platforms and liberalizing related cross-border logistics services.

The e-commerce market has grown rapidly within the ASEAN region in recent years. This trend is expected to continue in the future given the region’s large population base, rising middle-class and improvements in connectivity. This edited volume examines the current state of e-commerce in ASEAN countries. It highlights some of the key domestic and cross-border challenges faced by ASEAN member states in developing e-commerce. These challenges include the regulatory and legal environment in which e-commerce firms operate across ASEAN, and the supporting infrastructure in ASEAN member states. “A comprehensive snapshot of the latest emerging regulatory, policy and consumer issues. It’s essential reading for anyone working in this field. E-commerce is fundamentally altering the way in which businesses are being conducted, both within and between ASEAN countries. More than just an alternate distribution channel, online trading offers new opportunities and challenges for consumers, businesses, regulators and policymakers. How do markets operate in the new paradigm? How should regulators and governments ensure that dynamic competitive economies evolve, instead of descending into anti-competitive structures? And how are markets evolving in different parts of Southeast Asia? All of these issues—and much more—are discussed in here. The editors are to be congratulated for assembling a range of insightful perspectives from across ASEAN. These are issues that will affect the region for many years to come. The lessons here are timely and timeless.” —Michael Schaper Ph.D., Deputy Chairman, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2008–18