E-Commerce Law in China: The Functioning of E-Commerce in China and the Influence of the EU Model

China, the most populous country in the world, has developed an e-commerce system that is in many ways distinct from the system established in Europe and North America. Understanding the difference is essential for the smooth development of this new channel of distribution, namely e-commerce. Chinese e-commerce platforms are very good examples on how to exploit development in technology, not only to create value for the operators but also contribute to structural changes in the Chinese economy, boosting internal consumption. The success of Alibaba is unique because of the characteristic of the Chinese market and consumers. Their imminent IPO, at or exceeding the offer value of Facebook, will attract more attention to e-commerce in China as a new method to establish a presence in this market. Chinese companies, e-commerce or not, are eager to expand their presence abroad, and they will adopt a more aggressive approach to participate more in the EU through acquisitions.