2024.01.25 外刊双语精读 数字保护主义：Toko-Tok.docx

【1.25】

1.25每日一篇双语精读

Digital?protectionism:Toko-Tok

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TikToknavigatesitswayaroundIndonesia'sdigital?shakedown

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【1】THEMOREtheworld’s?youngsters?loveTikTok’sviralvideos,themoretheir?elected?elders?hatetheapp.They?decry?itforsupposedlycorrodingyoungminds.ManyinAmericawanttobanit.Indiaalreadyhas.InOctoberIndonesia,anotherbigand?promising?market,shutdownTikTok’s?fledgling?but?lucrative?sideline?ofsellinggoodsviaitsvideos,byrequiringsocial-mediafirmsto?obtain?ane-commerce?licence—withno?guarantee?ofsuccess.

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【2】Such?obstacles?haveforcedTikToktoact?strategically,forinstancebymovingitsglobalheadquarterstoSingaporeandhiringaSingaporeanchief?executive,whichhasputdistancebetweenitanditsChineseparent.Inanother?canny?move,onDecember?11thitannouncedthatitwaspaying$840mfora?75%?stake?inTokopedia,thee-commerce?armofGoTo,anIndonesiantech?conglomerate.Ithasalsopledgedto?invest?$1.5bninthetie-up.

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【3】Thedealissomethingofashotgunmarriage,butit?benefits?bothsides.GoTo,whichhas?struggled?toturnaprofitinrecentyears,willnolongerneedto?subsidise?itsloss-making?retail?arm.TikTok,foritspart,willbeallowedto?restart?itse-commerce?operations.SalesonTikTok’sappwillbe?fulfilled?byTokopedia’s?logistics?network(though,likealle-merchants?inIndonesia,itmustnowchargeminimumpricesforproductsmadeabroad).

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【4】TikTokandTokopedia?separately?accountfor?10%and?28%,?respectively,ofIndonesia’sfast-growinge-commerce?market,accordingtoMomentumWorks,adatafirm.Together,theyarea?powerhouse,?matching?themarketshareofShopee,?hitherto?thecountry’sbiggestonline?emporium?(ownedbySeaGroup,aSingaporeantechnology?conglomerate).

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【5】Mostimportant,an?intimate?linkwitha?domestic?champion?makesTikToklooklesslikeaforeign?interloper.Ifthefirmcanmakeitsnew?partnership?workintheworld’sfourth-most-populous?cou