Dr. Ecommerce Home


Ask Dr. Ecommerce a question

Q&A Alert
Latest Questions
Archives 2001
Archives 2000
Archives 1999
FAQ
Legal questions
European Institutions
Nat'l & local government
Technologies
Marketing & Selling
Definitions and Philosophy
How do I do it?
Money
General e-commerce

eThesis home
Universities and schools
eThesis best links

About Dr. Ecommerce
Discussion lists
In the news
Dr. Ecommerce speaks out

Board of experts
Legal guide
Statistics

26 Sep 2000

Dear Dr. Ecommerce

What are the possibilities of a German New Economy Start-Up to enter the international e-commerce Market, especially in the U.S. and Asia?

Are there any regulations, entry barriers or cultural mismatches?

I cannot wait for your answer

Denis

Dear Denis:

There are tremendous opportunities for a German e-business to enter the US and Asian markets. In Asia, German products are considered to be particularly well engineered and can sometimes command a price premium for this reason. Indeed, the number of Mercedes Benz on Bangkok's streets is evidence of the appreciation of German engineering!

In general, the US has more relaxed regulations than does
Germany regarding e-business. In Asia, it depends on the country. Some countries, it should be noted, have very high import duties and other restrictions to protect their local producers.

In the US, prices for many products are very low compared to in Europe and it is worth making sure that what you are trying to sell to Americans is not already available at a lower price than you can offer.

Of course, without knowing what you are selling, it is difficult to know if there will be any cultural or entry barriers. Regarding regulatory barriers, it is best to contact the commercial department at the embassy for each country you are interested in. They can give you all the relevant regulations and provide advice about importing etc. You should also join the Association of International Business. An online business community, the AIB forum includes businesspeople from around the globe. There you can meet people in countries that interest you and get a better idea about the potential market, regulations, etc.

Good luck,

Dr. Ecommerce

What do you think? Join the Dr. Ecommerce Talk discussion forum and share your opinion

Got a question for Dr. Ecommerce?