Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cross-Border E-Commerce: A New Driver of Global Trade

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Emerging Issues in Global Marketing

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) as a new driver of international trade. We adopt a revised i-based N-OLI framework for CBEC. Using China as a case study, we discuss the rapid growth, structure, export/import models, and infrastructure and environment of China’s CBEC. We attribute China’s CBEC success to the important role of e-commerce giants such as Alibaba.com and JD.com, the designation of CBEC pilot cities, supportive governmental policies, and big capital inflows. Four factors are seen to create future opportunities for all stakeholders of global CBEC, especially for merchants: the push from governments, the rise of middle class in developing countries, technological improvements, and more SMEs adopting CBEC. On the other hand, cultural differences, customer trust, logistics, payment, and legal and regulatory barriers are among the biggest challenges facing CBEC. Lastly, we outline several recommendations for foreign firms planning on entering into China’s market by means of CBEC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Accenture, Plc. 2016. Cross-border e-commerce report. White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agarwal, J., and T. Wu. 2004. China’s entry to WTO: Global marketing issues, impact, and implications. International Marketing Review 21 (3): 279–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2015. Factors influencing growth potential of e-commerce in emerging economies: An institution-based N-OLI framework. Thunderbird International Business Review 57 (3): 197–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CECRC (China Electronic Commerce Research Center). 2017. China e-commerce market data and inspection report in 2016. White Paper. http://www.100ec.cn/zt/16jcbg/.

  • CECRC, China Electronic Commerce Research Center. 2016. The 2015–16 China’s cross-border e-commerce development report. White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • CFTA. 2015. Introduction of Chongqing bonded port area import and export commodities exhibition & trading center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, N., and J. Yang. 2017. Mechanism of government policies in cross-border e-commerce on firm performance and implications on m-commerce. International Journal of Mobile Communications 15 (1): 69–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colliers International. 2015. Crossing borders, changing times – a new model for international e-commerce has strong implications for china’s bonded logistics property market. White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • ComScore, Inc. 2015. Reasons for abandoning online shopping carts in Europe in 2015. White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, Z., and Z. Wang. 2016. Early-mover advantages at cross-border business-to-business e-commerce portals. Journal of Business Research 69 (12): 6002–6011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DHL Group. 2016a. The 21st century spice trade: a guide to the cross-border e-commerce opportunity. White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2016b. Annual report 2016. White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunning, J.H. 1995. Reappraising the eclectic paradigm in an age of alliance capitalism. Journal of International Business Studies 26: 461–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1998. Location and the multinational enterprise: A neglected factor? Journal of International Business Studies 29: 45–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2000. The eclectic paradigm as an envelope for economic and business theories of MNE activity. International Business Review 9: 163–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. 2011. Bringing e-commerce benefits to consumers. Commission Staff Working Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2017. Boosting e-commerce in the EU. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/boosting-e-commerce-eu.

  • European Union. 2017. https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/vat/.

  • Forrester. 2014. Seizing the cross-border opportunity: How small and medium-size online businesses can go global, A Forrester Consulting Thought Leadership Paper Commissioned by FedEx.

    Google Scholar 

  • G20. 2016. G20 Leaders’ communique Hangzhou summit, 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  • GAC. 2017. Information on china’s importation taxes can be found at the office website of the general administration of customs: http://english.customs.gov.cn/.

  • Gessner, G.H., and C.R. Snodgrass. 2015. Designing e-commerce cross-border distribution networks for small and medium-size enterprises incorporating Canadian and U.S. trade incentive programs. Research in Transportation Business & Management 16: 84–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez-Herrera, E., B. Martens, and G. Turlea. 2014. The drivers and impediments for cross-border e-commerce in the EU. Information Economics and Policy 28: 83–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, M. 2015. Characteristics of China’s cross-border e-commerce, Institute of E-Commerce, China International Electronic Commerce Centre. White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang, B., Y. Tu, T. Cline, and Z. Ma. 2016. China’s e-tailing blossom: A case study, in E-Retailing Challenges and Opportunities in the Global Marketplace (Edited by Shailja Dixit & Amit Kumar Sinha):72–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malhotra, N.K., J. Agarwal, and F.M. Ulgado. 2003. Internationalization and entry modes: A multi-theoretical framework and research propositions. Journal of International Marketing 11 (4): 1–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansfield, C. 2015. Research on cross border e-commerce & free trade zone, White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • iMedia Research. 2017. Survey on perception of CBEC post-sales services among Chinese Internet Users. White Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng, R. 2015. Cross border e-commerce policy in china – harnessing china’ demand for imported products. Shanghai Lithuania-China Business Forum, Nov. 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei, Y., K. Wu, and L. Dai. 2016. An empirical research on the evaluation system of cross-border e-commerce. WHICEB 2016 Proceedings. 40. http://aisel.aisnet.org/whiceb2016/40.

  • Pitney Bowes, Inc. 2014. Global online shopping survey. Stamford, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitney Bowes. Inc. 2016. Global online shopping survey. Stamford, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • iResearch. 2014. The 2014 China cross-border e-commerce report (brief edition). www.iresearchchina.com. White Paper.

  • Singh, N., and S. Kundu. 2002. Explaining the growth of e-commerce corporations: An extension and application of the eclectic paradigm. Journal of International Business Studies 33: 679–697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, D., L. Fang, and J. Li. 2017. Research on the development of cross-border e-commerce in port cities – a case of Manzhouli city. Proceedings of the Fourth International Forum on Decision Sciences, Uncertainty and Operations Research. Edited by Li, X., & Xu, X., Springer, Singapore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tao, Y., and W. Zhang. 2016. Establishment of cross-border e-commerce credit evaluation system based on big data. Management & Engineering 24: 1838–5745.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terzi, N. 2011. The impact of e-commerce on international trade and employment. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 24: 745–753.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Brookings Institute. 2017. The unprecedented expansion of the global middle class: An update.

    Google Scholar 

  • USDC (U.S. Department of Commerce). 2015. Cross-border e-commerce in China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue, W., D. Li, and Y. Pei. 2016. The development and current of cross-border e-commerce. WHICEB 2016 Proceedings. 53. http://aisel.aisnet.org/whiceb2016/53.

  • Yousefi, A. 2015. The impact of cross-border e-commerce on international trade. The Proceedings of the 16th International Academic Conference, Amsterdam, Jun 2015: 616–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, M., W. Zuo, and H. Zheng. 2016. Research on the coordination mechanism and improvement strategy of the business model from china’s export cross-border e-commerce – based on the theory of coevolution. WHICEB 2016 Proceedings, 34. http://aisel.aisnet.org/whiceb2016/34.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business, Robert Morris University, Moon Township, PA, 15108, USA

    Yanbin Tu & Joe Z. Shangguan

Authors
  1. Yanbin Tu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joe Z. Shangguan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yanbin Tu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Haskayne Research Professor & Full Professor of Marketing at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    James Agarwal

  2. Faculty of Business & Information Technology, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

    Terry Wu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Tu, Y., Shangguan, J.Z. (2018). Cross-Border E-Commerce: A New Driver of Global Trade. In: Agarwal, J., Wu, T. (eds) Emerging Issues in Global Marketing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74129-1_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation