Stricter rules for digital platformsAfter months of anticipation, Thailand has introduced sweeping new trade competition guidelines to govern multi-sided platforms, aiming to reshape the e-commerce landscape. The new guidelines under the Trade Competition Act of 2017 took effect yesterday following their publication in the Royal Gazette on March 24. The rules target platforms spanning e-marketplaces and social commerce, including Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop, where powerful network effects have concentrated control across sellers, payments and logistics. Visanu Vongsinsirikul, secretary-general of the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand, said the guidelines will clarify which practices are deemed monopolistic behaviour. The rules cover predatory pricing, resale price maintenance and price parity clauses, alongside fees imposed by platforms such as commission charges, advertising fees, logistics or pick-up fees, promotional fees and payment processing fees.

Source: Bangkok Post March 25, 2026 18:12 UTC