Turkiye: Published Interim Report on E-Marketplace Platforms including concerns regarding competition

The Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) published an interim report on e-marketplace platforms on May 7, 2021, after opening a sector inquiry in 2020. The sector inquiry was initiated because of concerns about the fast rise of e-marketplace platforms and the risks involved therewith. While this development brings several benefits, it is also poses several risks and possible violations of competition laws. The risk categories are summarized as inter-platform, intra-platform and direct consumer-concerns. As a remedy, the TCA proposes amendment of secondary legislation, the development of a Code of Conduct for e-commerce platforms as well as an ex-ante regulation through gatekeepers.