GeekWire -

Stuart Applebaum has heard the argument before. That, perversely, a union organizer should quietly root against non-union higher wages or better working conditions because it makes activating workers toward unionization more difficult because they have less to fight for.

But Applebaum, the union boss who is trying to organize Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Ala., doesn’t buy that theory. Which is why he was excited when he saw that California lawmakers have attempted to put into law the same work-rate protections he’s been pushing for workers in the Deep South.

See article at: https://www.geekwire.com/2021/california-legislation-aid-amazon-warehouse-workers-wont-replace-ongoing-unionization-efforts/

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) —

With the holidays and the year’s peak shipping season fast approaching, Amazon and the U.S. Postal Service are racing to hire thousands of workers.

The postal service is hosting a series of job fairs this month throughout Southern California to hire for 4,000 local positions, according to spokeswoman Evelina Ramirez.

See article at: https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/09/15/amazon-us-postal-service-hiring-spree-holiday-season/

CNN - 

Shares in Alibaba slumped again on Monday after the Financial Times reported that Beijing is planning to break up Alipay, the hugely popular payment app owned by its financial affiliate, Ant Group.

But that wasn't the only piece of news that led to the stock's decline. Investors are also concerned that Beijing is intensifying its ongoing crackdown on big tech, after regulators ordered internet firms — including Alibaba and Tencent — to stop blocking rivals' links on their platforms.

See full article at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/alipay-alibaba-stock-tumbles-after-report-says-beijing-wants-to-break-up-popular-payment-app/ar-AAOnQix?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531

The Current and Future State of E-commerce | e-Commerce News HQ (ecommercenewshq.com)

The e-Commerce time line moved up significantly in just a few months by the Covid-19 epidemic...Many are struggling to understand this new world we live in but one thing is clear.  No business has a choice anymore.  You will either make the shift or struggle to keep up long after the effects of the epidemic have worn off. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Asia eCommerce Week will not take place as planned from 17 to 21 October 2021. UNCTAD looks forward to welcoming you to future editions of eCommerce Week.

See UNCTAD website:  https://unctad.org/meeting/cancelled-asia-ecommerce-week-shaping-digital-economy-all

If you are interested in participating the WTO's Public Forum (scheduled for September 28-October 1, 2021), please note the following registration deadlines:

• In-person Registration:  September 6, 2021
• Virtual Participation Registration:  September 27, 2021

The theme of the WTO's Public Forum is "Trade Beyond COVID-19: Building Resilience."  For more information, please see 

https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/pf21_26aug21_e.htm

CNBC -

Amazon is on a spending spree to grow its shipping business and isn’t content with only delivering products purchased on its own site. The company is now moving cargo for outside customers in its latest move to compete directly with FedEx and UPS.

The full article can be found at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/04/how-amazon-is-shipping-for-third-parties-to-compete-with-fedex-and-ups.html

CNBC -

Over the years, Amazon has built up an army of warehouses, shipping hubs, delivery vans and trucks to ensure it can meet its Prime pledge of delivery in two days or less.

See full article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/04/map-of-amazon-air-locations-.html

Check out the e-commerce panels scheduled for the WTO's Public Forum 2021 — “Trade Beyond COVID-19: Building Resilience” scheduled for September 28-October 1, 2021:

• Cross-border e-commerce: Opportunities and challenges for MSMEs in Latin America (ICC)
• Digital trade governance for development: Implementation challenges and technical assistance needs (World Bank Group)
• Conditions for appropriate e-commerce in developing countries (Bread for the World)
• Services and innovation: The future is digital (Coalition of Services Industries)
• Designing digital trade provisions in the AfCFTA: Lessons from existing trade agreements (IDS and UNECA)
• Digitalization for development: Benefits for MSMEs in developing countries (Netherlands)
• The case for ambitious services market access commitments as part of the JSI on e-commerce (NFTC and ITI)

The full program can be found at: https://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum21_e/draft_programme_e.pdf

BEIJING, Aug 31 (Reuters) - China's market regulator proposed amendments to the country's e-commerce law, saying that licences can be revoked if the platforms fail to take necessary measures against vendors who infringe intellectual property rights.

The amendments are open for public review before Oct. 14, an article published by the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) website on Tuesday said.

See full article at: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-market-regulator-proposes-amendments-e-commerce-law-2021-08-31/