China has released new guidance for its e-commerce sector, signaling a shift toward more structured, globally integrated digital trade. The policy comes shortly after a visit from European Union lawmakers, who raised concerns about product safety, market access, and the growing volume of cross-border shipments. While the document focuses on domestic development, its broader message is clear: cross-border e-commerce is becoming more regulated, more strategic, and more closely tied to global trade dynamics. Balancing Growth and Regulation At the core of the new guidance is a balancing act. Chinese regulators emphasize the need to support innovation and expansion, while also…
Shopify has introduced a new AI Toolkit for developers, marking another step toward what many describe as an “agentic” future of e-commerce. Rather than being a typical AI feature, the toolkit acts as infrastructure. It connects AI agents directly to Shopify stores, enabling them to understand, build, and even execute operations inside the platform. This shift reflects a broader transition already visible across e-commerce: AI is moving from supporting decisions to actively performing tasks. From Assistance to Execution Until recently, most AI tools in e-commerce focused on assistance. They helped generate product descriptions, suggest campaigns, or improve search results. Shopify’s…
