The UK competition regulator has officially launched an investigation into eBay's $1.2 billion acquisition of the second-hand fashion platform Depop. This move aims to assess whether the acquisition would weaken competition in the online second-hand market. Sellers relying on such platforms for cross-border sales should closely monitor potential regulatory impacts on platform policies, fees, and market access.
Amazon has signed a multi-billion dollar long-term agreement with specialty glass manufacturer Corning to provide critical optical fiber and connectivity technologies for its rapidly expanding data centers. This move not only secures hardware supply for Amazon's cloud infrastructure but also boosts local employment in North Carolina through expansion. For sellers, this reflects Amazon's ongoing significant investment in AI and cloud services, further solidifying its foundational capabilities as a global e-commerce and cloud services giant.
Amazon has reached a large supply agreement with fiber optic giant Corning to support its AI data centers. This move not only strengthens Amazon's positioning in cloud infrastructure but also creates numerous jobs through expanded production in North Carolina, demonstrating its ongoing investment in the AI computing race.
In response to concerns about potential job losses due to AI, Walmart has reiterated that AI will serve as an auxiliary tool for employees and has launched an AI certification program for all staff, aimed at enhancing work efficiency through technology rather than simply replacing human labor.
The UK competition regulator has launched an investigation into eBay's acquisition of Depop, which may potentially impact eBay's market share and operational strategy in the second-hand e-commerce sector.
Newegg has announced its annual summer promotion, FantasTech, set to take place in late June, and will introduce price protection mechanisms to boost summer sales.
Recent research shows that hidden tariffs and fees are the main barriers preventing North American consumers from engaging in cross-border shopping, highlighting the need for brands to enhance cost transparency to improve conversion rates.
The upcoming EU regulations on low-value goods tariffs will eliminate long-standing tax exemptions, compelling cross-border sellers to reassess their pricing and logistics strategies in the European market.
As Prime Day approaches, sellers need to focus on the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the unsold goods ban while adjusting their sales tax compliance strategies in the U.S.
Walmart announced that its annual summer sale will begin on June 22, directly competing with Amazon's Prime Day. A significant change this year is the introduction of the 'Hot Deal Drops' mechanism, allowing popular products to be available to Walmart+ members first, with no restocking after inventory runs out, placing greater demands on sellers' inventory management and promotional timing.
Amazon has reached a multi-billion dollar, multi-year partnership with Corning to manufacture optical fibers for data centers. This move not only strengthens Amazon's domestic supply chain but also reflects its ongoing infrastructure investment, further solidifying the platform's technical support for cross-border sellers reliant on Amazon's cloud services and logistics.
TikTok Shop will update its payment settlement policy on June 9, upgrading the existing three-tier settlement system to a four-tier framework. The new policy introduces an 'Expedited Settlement' (3 calendar days) mode applicable to stores within the new store adjustment period, aiming to incentivize sellers to improve store performance and compliance through differentiated settlement cycles.
In 2026, China's cross-border e-commerce sector is facing severe challenges. Heightened air freight costs and weak consumer demand in Western markets are squeezing top platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress, leading to a noticeable slowdown in growth. The industry is shifting from earlier extensive expansion to refined operations, making cost control key to survival.
eBay US will soon roll out a new logistics policy requiring sellers to use platform-designated shipping labels. This will change how shipping costs are settled, with the platform intervening to handle logistics disputes and providing loss and damage protection for packages. Sellers need to quickly adjust their logistics settings to comply with the new rules.
TikTok Shop Southeast Asia has released an updated pricing compliance policy that strictly prohibits deceptive promotional practices in live broadcasts and short videos. The platform clearly bans false limited-time pricing, fake coupons, and fictitious pricing errors, with severe penalties for violators.
Amazon has introduced an AI-generated product image feature in its shopping app. When users input inaccurately described search terms, the system will automatically generate multiple visual options for the user to choose from, thereby accurately matching search results.
Due to soaring logistics costs driven by conflicts in West Asia and weak demand from low-income consumers in the West, China's e-commerce export growth has slowed. In April, the export volume of low-cost e-commerce dropped by 10.9% year-on-year, putting profit pressures on platforms like Temu and Shein.
AI e-commerce startup Wassist has completed a $1.1 million seed round of financing. The company offers a no-code platform that helps merchants deploy AI agents on WhatsApp for automated customer service, product recommendations, and payment processing.
TikTok Shop officially announced mandatory expiration management rules for sensitive categories such as food, beauty, health products, and medical devices on June 5. Sellers must strictly comply with the platform's labeling and compliance requirements regarding product expiration; non-compliance may lead to delisting, traffic restrictions, or account penalties. Sellers in related categories are advised to audit their inventory immediately to ensure all products meet the new compliance standards to avoid unnecessary business losses.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially launched an antitrust investigation into eBay's $1.2 billion acquisition of the secondhand fashion platform Depop. The watchdog will assess whether the merger significantly weakens competition in the UK market. This investigation could lead to delays in transaction approval or additional restrictive conditions. Cross-border sellers dependent on eBay are advised to closely monitor the potential impact of this acquisition on platform traffic distribution and market structure.