What is cross-border e-commerce

The term "cross-border e-commerce" (full name: cross-border electronic commerce) appeared in 2011, which refers to an international business activity in which transactions are concluded by means of e-commerce, online ordering, payment and settlement, and goods are delivered through cross-border logistics, cleared through customs and finally delivered.

In terms of transaction mode, China’s cross-border e-commerce can be divided into business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) trade modes.

Under the B2B mode, enterprises use e-commerce mainly by advertising and information release, and the transaction and customs clearance processes are basically completed offline, which is still a traditional trade in essence and has been included in the general trade statistics of customs. Under the B2C model, Chinese enterprises directly face foreign consumers, mainly selling personal consumer goods, and the logistics mainly adopts air parcels, mail, express delivery, etc. The main body of customs declaration is postal or express delivery companies, and most of them are not included in customs registration at present.

From the perspective of import and export, cross-border e-commerce can be divided into export cross-border e-commerce and import cross-border e-commerce.