YouTube, news, and group chats are going crazy. It's because of the recent report. The title has the strong phrase "Blocking overseas direct purchase sources", so it seems to be getting more attention. In particular, TECH YouTubers posted videos on this topic, so I watched them. There are five main points.
1.
Overseas direct purchase of children's products, electrical and household appliances, and household chemical products without KC certification is prohibited.
2.
Bringing cosmetics, hygiene products, accessories, etc. containing harmful ingredients into the country is prohibited.
3.
Overseas platforms are required to appoint domestic agents and are encouraged to conclude voluntary agreements to prevent consumer damage.
4.
The government will support logistics advancement and activation of reverse direct purchasing to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic small and medium-sized distributors and small business owners.
5.
We will review the reform of the small-amount tax exemption system and strengthen customs clearance procedures and inspection personnel.
Although this measure does not directly mention “AliExpress” or “Temu,” it seems like a policy designed to counter the two platforms that are currently the largest direct purchasing services, and for many people who have been enjoying the benefits of low prices as consumers or those who have entered new economic activities with this, this somewhat sudden news may have a bigger impact.
The biggest purpose of this measure is to ensure consumer safety. KC certification is a system that verifies the safety of domestic children's products and electrical appliances, and products that have not received this certification have potential risk factors. However, KC certification does not solve all safety issues, and the appropriateness of the standards themselves and the effectiveness of the testing methods will require continuous review and improvement.
In addition, this measure also aims to improve the competitiveness of domestic distribution companies and small business owners who are suffering from the rapid increase in overseas direct purchases. The expansion of cross-border e-commerce is an inevitable trend, but I believe that government support and institutional improvement are absolutely necessary to create a fair playing field.
From the consumer's perspective, it may be regrettable that the choice of some overseas direct purchase products is limited. However, in the long term, positive changes are expected, such as increased safety of products distributed through overseas direct purchase, strengthened monitoring of unfair practices, and increased channels for receiving help in case of disputes.
Actually, it may seem like it's out of the blue, but when I looked into related policies, it seems like it's something that's been being worked on for about a year. It seems like it was announced too strongly and too hastily, pushed by Chinese commerce such as Ali/Temu... I think traffic control is needed.
There are still some areas that have not been specifically mentioned in this measure. For example, the scope of items subject to KC certification, detailed criteria for designating domestic agents, and the small-amount tax exemption system reform plan are issues that require further discussion and review in the future.
Overseas direct purchase has already become deeply entrenched in our lives. In a changing distribution environment, it is time for the government, companies, and consumers to all work together to improve consumer safety, corporate competitiveness, and consumer convenience. I hope that social interest and discussion on this issue will continue in the future.
Subscribe to 'haebom'
📚 Welcome to Haebom's archives. --- I post articles related to IT 💻, economy 💰, and humanities 🎭. If you are curious about my thoughts, perspectives or interests, please subscribe. Would you like to be notified when new articles are posted? 🔔 Yes, that means subscribe. haebom@kakao.com
