China releases new e-commerce guidance on product safety and cross-border trade after first EU parliamentary visit in eight years

China's Ministry of Commerce, alongside ministries overseeing industry, agriculture, and tourism, as well as its cyberspace and market regulators, jointly issued new e-commerce guidance calling for a balance between promotion and regulation while pushing further integration of digital activity with the broader economy. The guidance outlines plans to create cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, develop related rules and standards, and encourage Chinese platforms to expand into overseas markets, including by establishing direct procurement bases abroad. The policy follows pressure from EU lawmakers over unsafe products entering the bloc and restricted access to China's market, and comes as the EU separately agreed last month to reform its customs system, including fines for platforms that sell illegal or unsafe goods.