Through the power of the Internet and technology, small businesses like never before are able to reach beyond a local consumer base and access global markets.

Commerce 3.0 is the term we have used to capture this development of online and offline worlds coming together and the merging of local and global markets. The idea that technology-enabled small businesses can maintain a local presence while providing goods and services on a global scale is a novel and exciting story, particularly for those engaged in trade policy.

International trade has traditionally been the privilege of the largest players. This is changing. The Internet creates a truly global network. If you combine it with technology solutions and services, you enable merchants and consumers to connect and establish trust across national and cultural borders.

The analysis is based on research by Sidley Austin LLP on two datasets from eBay and PayPal, respectively, and follows research conducted in Asia Pacific, United States and Europe.

The eBay data covers all eBay sales by Taiwanese sellers from 2007 to 2013. eBay “Commercial sellers” are defined as those with annual sales of USD10,000 or more.

The PayPal data contains data for PayPal Taiwanese commercial sellers from 2007 to 2013. PayPal commercial sellers are those with annual receipts of USD50,000 or more.

Internet-empowered small businesses and entrepreneurs are able to overcome some of the traditional barriers associated with international trade. But some barriers still remain while new arise as large corporations are joined by small firms and entrepreneurs on the global stage.

This report will provide several ideas for consideration to overcome these challenges.

Global trade is undergoing fundamental changes. Through online networks and digital services, small businesses are able to reach beyond a local consumer base and access global markets like never before.

Commerce 3.0 is the term we use to describe this coming together of online and offline worlds and the merging of local and global markets.

And Turkish entrepreneurs take part in this trade revolution. They are leveraging innovative tools and solutions to build successful global operations.

This report sheds light on how Turkish firms use eBay and PayPal as their springboard to customers in as many as 175 different countries. The report draws on a detailed analysis of data on eBay and PayPal transactions conducted by firms based in Turkey. A detailed description of the data sources can be found at the end of this report.

The research result presented in this report tells us that the Internet, technology and innovation together create a truly global marketplace where also smaller sized, less experienced and remotely located firms can enter, grow and compete along side the larger and more experienced ones. Indeed, our research shows how eBay and PayPal link Turkish entrepreneurs to international markets and provide unparalleled opportunities for small businesses wherever in Turkey they are based.

However, despite these positive trends, some barriers to technology-enabled trade remain, in particular for the small firms which are the major beneficiaries of it. This report therefore concludes with a discussion on such trade impediments that are particularly relevant for Turkey.

We invite you to read about an emerging new type of global trade, unleashed by innovation and inclusive to firms of all sizes and all across Turkey.

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