E-commerce policy draft: Brands may get the right for exclusive agreements

From protecting consumer data to regulating Chinese e-commerce apps, the draft charts a plan to increase onshore digital commerce

The draft e-commerce policy, released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), gives backdoor entry to exclusivity agreements between brands and online marketplaces, militating against general FDI guidelines for etailers.

While FDI in e-commerce policy does not allow online marketplaces to have exclusive tie-ups with brands, the draft e-commerce policy allows brands to forbid platforms from selling their products, which would give other portals exclusive access to those brands.

The DPIIT last week released the first official draft of the much-awaited e-commerce policy. From protecting consumer data to regulating Chinese e-commerce apps, the draft charts a