The EU Commission launches a sector inquiry in the e-commerce sector

Earlier today, the European Commission (the “EC”) announced the launch of a sector inquiry into the e-commerce sector in the European Union (“EU”). This is the first sector inquiry in the EU since 2008, and is part of the EC’s broader Digital Single Market (“DSM”) Strategy. The Directorate General for Competition (“DG COMP”) will examine whether companies selling products online have illegally restricted cross-border ecommerce in the EU. Scope of the e-Commerce Sector Inquiry Commissioner Vestager expects that the inquiry will (i) strengthen and make more uniform the actions of the EC and national competition authorities regarding restrictions on online sales, (ii) provide guidance to companies active in the sector, (iii) encourage those companies to implement compliance programmes and