Barriers to e-commerce policy in logistics: an exploratory study of the Pearl River Delta, China

With the help of the information and communication technology and the continual ingress of foreign direct investment, the use of the internet in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) has developed rapidly. While physical infrastructure is a key factor for successful world trade, government policy relating to e-commerce is also a critical element to success. This study, based on the feedback of questionnaires and interviews with practitioners in the logistics industry in the PRD, has collected empirical evidence and confirmed causes of the barriers related to e-commerce policy in logistics operations in the PRD. These included availability and interpretation of rules and regulations, interface between the Chinese law and international law, execution of law and policy, and electronic payments in e-commerce in the PRD. The impact of the observed barriers to e-commerce policy may result in reduced competitiveness for the logistics operations of multinational enterprises in China.