Core Viewpoint - Major instant retail platforms, including Meituan, Taobao Flash Sale, Ele.me, and JD, have collectively announced their commitment to resist irrational price wars and return to rational operations, emphasizing the protection of merchant rights and the promotion of orderly industry development [2][3][4]. Group 1: Company Commitments - Meituan has made five key commitments, notably to stop selling goods and services at prices significantly below cost, aiming to avoid market distortion and waste [3][4]. - Taobao Flash Sale and Ele.me have outlined four action paths, including rational planning of subsidy activities and opposing irrational promotions like "0 yuan purchase" to protect merchant profit margins [3][4]. - JD has introduced four measures to regulate platform operations, including resisting harmful subsidies and promoting differentiated competition focused on quality and service [4][5]. Group 2: Regulatory Context - The collective cooling of the price war among these platforms comes in the context of the upcoming implementation of the revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law, which will regulate "involution-style competition" in the platform sector starting October 15, 2025 [4][5]. - The new law explicitly prohibits platforms from forcing merchants to sell at below-cost prices and requires the establishment of fair competition rules and reporting mechanisms for violations [5][6]. Group 3: Market Implications - The platforms' unified stance is seen as a response to long-standing dissatisfaction among merchants and aims to signal a shift away from aggressive price competition towards a focus on quality growth [6][7]. - The effectiveness of these commitments will depend on the platforms' ability to implement transparent subsidy mechanisms and ensure merchant interests are protected, which will be crucial for restoring consumer trust [6][7].

Group 1 - The core issue of "involution" competition has gained significant attention across various sectors, including cement, photovoltaic, automotive, and e-commerce, with calls for a return to value-based competition [2] - Recent subsidy wars among food delivery platforms, featuring large discounts and promotions, have sparked consumer interest while local restaurant associations urge a resistance to price-subsidy competition [2][8] - The regulatory landscape for platform economy governance has shifted from consumer protection to a more comprehensive approach that includes the interests of operators and platform workers [2][9] Group 2 - The competition in the platform economy is increasingly focused on data as a key production factor, moving away from traditional product and service competition [4][5] - The decline of traffic growth has led to a reassessment of competition strategies, with platforms now entering a phase of traffic redistribution [5][6] - The total e-commerce transaction volume in China is projected to reach 45.52 trillion yuan in 2023, with a slight increase to 46.41 trillion yuan in 2024, indicating a slowdown in growth [5] Group 3 - The regulatory approach to platform governance has evolved, with a focus on preventing "involution" competition and ensuring fair competition practices among platform operators [7][10] - The revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law introduces new measures to prevent platforms from forcing operators to sell below cost, thereby disrupting market order [7][10] - The emphasis on fair competition rules within platform service agreements aims to establish a mechanism for reporting and resolving unfair competition complaints [10][12] Group 4 - The platform governance policies have shifted from a focus on consumer interests to a more balanced approach that protects multiple stakeholders, including operators and consumers [9][12] - The need for platforms to actively manage and report on unfair competition behaviors has been highlighted, expanding their internal governance responsibilities [10][11] - The rapid evolution of business models in the platform economy presents challenges in identifying and regulating unfair competition, necessitating a nuanced approach to governance [11][12]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the importance of integrating technological innovation with industrial innovation to create new development momentum and advantages in the platform economy [1][2] - It highlights the need for a robust governance system for the platform economy, ensuring a fair and orderly development environment [1][3] - The focus is on supporting the application and iteration of innovative products, enhancing policies for major technological equipment and materials to accelerate their industrial application [2] Group 2 - The role of freight platform companies in reducing logistics costs and stabilizing employment is underscored, along with the necessity for these platforms to fulfill their responsibilities [3] - Recommendations include setting reasonable commission rates, optimizing order distribution algorithms, and enhancing regulatory frameworks to combat unfair practices in the platform economy [3] - The article calls for the establishment of a normalized regulatory system for the platform economy, including laws and regulations related to platform rules, algorithms, and pricing [3]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the news is the establishment of the Taotian Network Transaction Electronic Data Collaboration Center, which aims to enhance the efficiency of online transaction regulation while ensuring data security in the platform economy [1] - The new "three-in-one" collaboration mechanism involves clear division of responsibilities among the Yuhang District Market Supervision Administration, Taotian Group, and Hangzhou Market Supervision Administration, improving the regulatory process [1] - The center utilizes the "Red Shield Cloud Bridge" system for online data sharing, complementing offline collaboration, representing an innovative practice in implementing national regulatory guidelines [1] Group 2 - The government-enterprise collaboration meeting also focused on the "618" shopping festival, discussing compliance efforts and risk management during the promotional period [2] - The Yuhang District Market Supervision Administration provided guidance on major issues related to the promotional activities, including rules, risk points, and public opinion response [2] - Continuous communication and information sharing between government departments and platform enterprises are emphasized as essential for maximizing the effectiveness of platform economic governance [2]

Core Viewpoint - The recently released "Guidelines for Compliance of Charging Behavior on Online Trading Platforms" by the State Administration for Market Regulation aims to establish clear behavioral norms for online platforms, emphasizing fairness, legality, and good faith in charging practices [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Framework - The guidelines require platforms to publicly disclose charging items and standards, prohibit double charging, and ensure services are provided in exchange for fees, addressing long-standing issues of transparency and fairness in the platform economy [1][2]. - The guidelines are based on key laws such as the Price Law, E-commerce Law, and Anti-Unfair Competition Law, providing clearer enforcement boundaries for regulators and pathways for merchants to protect their rights [3]. Group 2: Impact on Platform Economy - The platform economy has become a significant pillar of China's digital economy, directly creating over 40 million jobs and indirectly generating over 100 million jobs, with online retail sales reaching 15.4 trillion yuan in 2023 [1]. - The guidelines are expected to compel platforms to enhance transparency and service quality, thereby alleviating the burdens on small and medium-sized merchants who have faced complex service packages and rising operational costs [2]. Group 3: Long-term Implications - The introduction of the guidelines may drive platforms to optimize their business models, shifting focus from high commission and advertising fees to cost reduction and efficiency improvement, fostering a healthier commercial ecosystem [4]. - The guidelines reflect a modernization of governance, similar to the EU's 2019 legislation promoting fair treatment of online platform users, indicating a shift from extensive expansion to refined governance in the platform economy [4].

Core Viewpoint - The introduction of the "Compliance Guidelines for Charging Behavior of Online Trading Platforms" aims to regulate platform fees, reduce burdens on merchants, and promote fair competition in the platform economy [8][9][10]. Group 1: Background and Significance - The guidelines are a response to long-standing issues in the platform economy, such as high commissions and unfair practices like "choose one from two" and "big data discrimination," which threaten the survival of small and medium-sized merchants [8]. - The guidelines are expected to lower operational costs for platform businesses by 15-20%, potentially releasing trillions in market vitality [9]. - The guidelines advocate for flexible pricing strategies and support for small merchants, which could improve the living standards of 200 million flexible workers and stabilize the employment market [9]. Group 2: Industry Insights - Many platforms rely on high commission rates, with delivery and live-streaming platforms charging between 20%-30% [11]. - High penalties imposed by platforms for various violations create additional pressure on merchants, with fines for issues like delayed shipments and service quality [12]. - The increasing costs of customer acquisition on platforms have led to a cycle of dependency and high commission rates, negatively impacting the profitability of small merchants [12][13]. Group 3: System Governance Pathways - The guidelines suggest upgrading regulatory measures, including setting industry benchmark fee ranges and requiring platforms to disclose algorithmic logic [14]. - Platforms are encouraged to establish a fee reduction roadmap and create ecological funds to support small merchants [14]. - A cross-platform merchant capability enhancement mechanism is proposed to reduce reliance on single channels and improve negotiation power [14]. Group 4: Legal and Regulatory Analysis - Some platforms misuse their market dominance to impose unfair trading conditions, leading to significant legal disputes [15]. - The government has initiated actions to address issues like "big data discrimination," which remains challenging due to the technical and legal complexities involved [15]. Group 5: Opinions and Recommendations - The guidelines mark a new phase in platform economy governance, emphasizing a collaborative approach involving government regulation, platform accountability, merchant innovation, and social oversight [16]. - Establishing a platform economy innovation alliance is recommended to assist in developing compliance systems and protecting data rights [16].