The National Competition Commission has worked with representatives of Shopee, requesting explanations and clarification regarding new fee policies applied to sellers on the platform.

According to information from the National Competition Commission under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in May 2026, the commission received multiple complaints and information related to the adjustment of existing fees and/or the introduction of new fee policies by several e-commerce platforms. These changes could affect the overall operating costs of sellers on the platforms, thereby indirectly impacting prices for consumers as well as the competitive environment in the e-commerce sector.

In performing its State management functions on competition and consumer protection, the commission recently organized working sessions with several sellers operating on Shopee and TikTok Shop to examine and record difficulties and shortcomings faced by sellers amid adjustments to fixed fees, transaction processing fees and newly arising service fees that Shopee and TikTok Shop have applied or plan to apply in May 2026.

At the same time, the National Competition Commission sent official requests for information and documents, and held working sessions with representatives of several intermediary digital retail platforms, including Shopee, to clarify the basis for developing, adjusting and applying the new fee policies, as well as their impacts on sellers and the competitive environment.

The National Competition Commission requests Shopee, TikTok Shop and relevant enterprises to provide full information, documents and explanations regarding the basis for fee collection mechanisms. Photo: Illustrative image

In particular, the commission paid special attention to Shopee’s planned introduction of a new fee through the “Display Maintenance Program,” funded through automatic deductions from sellers’ order revenues and scheduled to take effect from May 29, 2026.

Under the mechanism proposed by Shopee, a certain percentage of revenue from successful orders would be automatically deducted from sellers’ earnings and transferred to display service accounts in order to maintain promotional and product display activities on the platform.

The standard display maintenance rate is set at 1% of revenue from successful orders, excluding value-added tax (VAT). Sellers may also flexibly set rates ranging from 1% to 50% depending on their needs. The deducted amount would be directly subtracted before revenues are transferred to sellers’ accounts.

Following the review and working process, the National Competition Commission requested Shopee to reassess the basis for implementing the program and its potential impacts on the seller community operating on the platform.

On May 27, 2026, Shopee Co., Ltd. submitted a report to the commission regarding the review results and proactively proposed postponing the implementation of the new fee policy under the Display Maintenance Program. The company also said it would send an official notice to sellers on May 28, 2026.

Regarding adjustments to current fees applied by intermediary digital retail platforms to sellers, including fixed fees, transaction processing fees, infrastructure fees and other service charges, the National Competition Commission said it would continue strengthening monitoring and supervision over the formulation, adjustment and application of fee policies in the market.

At the same time, the commission requested Shopee, TikTok Shop and relevant enterprises to continue providing full information, documents and explanations regarding the basis for policy formulation, adjustment grounds, implementation methods, fee collection mechanisms, as well as the rationality, transparency and impacts of these fee policies on sellers’ business activities, in order to ensure a healthy competitive environment and protect consumer rights.

To support market supervision efforts, the commission called on sellers, organizations and relevant individuals to continue coordinating in providing information, documents and objective feedback on actual situations arising during operations on intermediary digital retail platforms, especially regarding fee adjustments and new policies that may affect business activities, consumer rights and the competitive environment.

The National Competition Commission also requested intermediary digital retail platforms to ensure transparency and rationality when adjusting fee policies, avoiding unreasonable burdens on sellers, distortions to market competition or negative impacts on consumers.