Antitrust Alert: European Antitrust Watchdog Prepares E-Commerce Sector Inquiry

Summary: On March 26, 2015, European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager proposed launching a formal sector inquiry into the European e-commerce industry, with a special focus on cross-border e-commerce activities. According to the Commissioner, there are a number of indications that competition may not be working well in the European e-commerce sector, including the fact that nearly half of all EU consumers used the Internet for purchasing products or services in 2014, but only 15 percent of them have bought from a seller based in another EU member state.