Supapji has successfully joined forces with government agencies and platforms to reduce GP fees for six months, helping SMEs build transparent and fair trade rules while expediting the drafting of the Digital Platform Economy Act for long-term management.
On 28 Oct 2026 at the Kittiyakorn Waralak Room, 4th Floor, Ministry of Commerce, Supapji Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, stated that the government prioritizes fairness in digital platform business, especially supporting small entrepreneurs and SMEs who are key to Thailand's economy. This follows complaints about fee increases and changes in online platform trade rules, which have hindered businesses from properly planning costs and managing operations.
The Ministry of Commerce coordinated with the Trade Competition Commission (TCC), Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), councils and associations related to SMEs, other government agencies, and digital platforms to hear facts, negotiate solutions, and jointly establish transparency and fairness in online business, aiming to enable entrepreneurs to compete and grow while ensuring consumers receive quality products and services at fair prices with proper protection.
To address short-term issues, the TCC has suspended GP fee increases for six months. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Internal Trade, has engaged with three major e-marketplace platforms—Shopee, TikTok Shop, and Lazada—to find concrete ways to ease costs for small entrepreneurs.
From discussions, all three platforms agreed to reduce mandatory fees back to rates as of 1 Jan 2026 for at least six months. Fee rates vary by platform, store type, and product category. This measure is expected to reduce fees by about 1.93 billion baht, giving small entrepreneurs time to adjust, plan costs, and operate their businesses more effectively.
Additionally, the Ministry of Commerce emphasizes creating market opportunities for community entrepreneurs and SMEs through cooperation with the Community Development Department, Department of Local Administration Promotion, and the private sector to develop product potential and expand online sales channels, aiming for small entrepreneurs to access markets and generate continuous income.
For long-term efforts, the Ministry of Commerce will use this six-month period to gather facts and data from all sectors—including entrepreneurs, platforms, regulators, and consumers—to review and develop the draft Digital Platform Economy Act, ensuring it suits the digital economy context and is practical. This will involve integrated work between ETDA, TCC, Department of Internal Trade, and related agencies, along with comprehensive stakeholder feedback.
Supapji said future rules must cover pricing structures and fees, business operation criteria, commercial behavior, and relevant standards to ensure transparency, fairness, and genuine competition without imposing undue burdens on platform operators. Mechanisms must support small entrepreneurs to compete and ensure consumers receive quality, reliable products and services.
“We do not want any party to suffer because all are part of the same economic ecosystem. Platforms are key to today's trade. The government’s goal is for all parties to grow together, entrepreneurs to compete fairly, platforms to operate appropriately, and consumers to benefit from fair prices, clear rules, and quality products and services.”
“This marks the beginning of our collaboration. Over the long term, we will consider data and suggestions from this six-month period to establish appropriate, transparent, and fair rules so Thailand’s digital economy trade can grow sustainably and benefit the public to the fullest,” Supapji said.
Wattanasak Sueam, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, said that after discussions, Shopee, TikTok Shop, and Lazada agreed to cooperate by reverting mandatory fee rates to those of 1 Jan 2026 for six months, from 1 Dec 2026 to 31 May 2027.
Details: Shopee will reduce fees from the current 8.03–19.26% to 8.03–13.91%; TikTok Shop from 13.38–21.94% to 11.24–17.66%; and Lazada from 9.00–17.50% to 7.50–11.60%. This reduction will lower costs for entrepreneurs, especially SMEs selling online, enhancing competitiveness and market expansion opportunities.
Supree Thongphet, Chairman of the Thai SME Enterprise Council, said the council received complaints from SMEs affected by GP fee increases, many unable to adjust quickly. He thanked Deputy Prime Minister Supapji, the TCC, government agencies, and platforms for finding solutions. This fee reduction is an important start to balancing all parties in the trade ecosystem and developing fair rules for SMEs to operate steadily on digital platforms.
Poonpong Nainapakorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, said the government does not expect platforms to forgo profits but asks them to share the burden with small entrepreneurs and consumers, especially during the energy crisis affecting sellers, platforms, and buyers as parts of one chain. All should strive for balance so all parties can continue business fairly. The ministry also provides complaint channels: Department of Internal Trade hotline 1569 for product and price issues, and Department of Business Development hotline 1570 for business advice.
Representatives from Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop expressed readiness to cooperate with the government to support small entrepreneurs, agreeing that all are part of the digital economic ecosystem and should develop transparent, fair rules fostering sustainable growth. Shopee said it is ready to use technology to help entrepreneurs grow and increase income. Lazada supports discussions to set rules fitting the evolving economic and technological context. TikTok Shop affirmed its commitment to support entrepreneurs of all sizes to grow together.