Why trade facilitation matters – eBay presents at WTO

On July 10, eBay opened a two-day World Trade Organisation symposium in Geneva. Together with Imperial Logistics and COMESA, Hanne Melin addressed a full auditorium, most of the 155 WTO members represented, on the topic “Why trade facilitation is important”.
Legislative Alert: Legislation Attempts to Impose New Internet Sales Tax Burdens on Small Businesses. Call Your Senators Today!

On Tuesday, the Senate agreed to begin debating a small business tax bill (S.2237) that some say could boost job creation. Unfortunately, Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) have expressed plans to offer an Internet Sales Tax amendment. If you oppose this Internet Sales Tax scheme that would make it harder for small business retailers to use the Internet and raise prices on consumers, contact your Senators and let them know what you think.
In the Tool-Box: Online Marketplaces for European Integration

Two years ago, Member of European Parliament (MEP) Pablo Arias Echeverría called on the European Commission to “act swiftly” to remove barriers to cross-border ecommerce and asked for a report on progress in 2012. Recently, the Commission has responded to MEP Arias Echeverría’s request.
eBay Participates in European Small Business Alliance Event on Micro-Business

Last week, eBay Inc. participated in an event sponsored by the European Small Business Alliance (ESBA), which focused on the ways in which small and medium-sized enterprises have been the backbone of job creation for Europe in the last few years.
Mobile First! New EU Rules for the Smart Phone Generation

Just in time for summer vacations, the EU has made it cheaper for individuals to go mobile while traveling in Europe.
eBay Inc. and PostNL Host Discussion on Parcel Delivery and Cross-Border Trade

On 27 July, eBay Inc. and PostNL, a Dutch postal & logistics company, co-sponsored a breakfast debate on parcel delivery and cross-border e-commerce in the EU.
Technology for Sustainable Commerce – an EU context (Part 1)

The European Commission has just adopted a new European Consumer Agenda for 2014 - 2020, recognising the power of consumers to drive forward the European economy by making informed choices that reward competition and support the goal of sustainable and resource-efficient growth.
Citizens for Ownership Rights Collecting Petition Signatures to Protect Rights to Resell

An upcoming Supreme Court case, Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, involves an eBay seller who was sued by a textbook publisher for reselling books.  (Legitimate books — not counterfeit, pirated, or stolen.)  The publisher is trying to use U.S. copyright law to stop the book sales and make the seller pay $600,000 in damages – more than 15 times what he made from selling the books.  Citizens for Ownership Rights (CFOR) is a coalition of public interest organizations gathering signatures for a petition that will be sent directly to the President and Attorney General urging them to support the rights of Americans to purchase legitimate goods, resell those goods, give them away, or use them in any legal manner as they see fit.
Think 3.0 Event: Define Commerce, Shape Policy, Grow Sustainably

Technology is blurring the lines between online and offline, between local and global commerce as worldwide, consumers increasingly shop online and local merchants meet global demand.
eBay Inc. Germany Hosts Panel on Cross-Border Trade

Last week German parliamentarians, journalists, and members of various economic associations discussed the benefits of cross-border trade in an event titled “The Economic Potential of Online Cross-Border Trade.” The press event and panel discussion were hosted by Germany's eBay Inc. Government Relations team.