This study analyzes the effects of the sales models employed by Chinese digital platforms Shein and Temu during 2022–2024, within the context of the rapid growth of e-commerce in Latin America and its regulatory implications for Ecuador. It explores the economic impact of repetitive, impulse-driven purchases stimulated by intensive digital advertising and the need to review national customs regulations. The research adopted a descriptive and documentary approach, complemented by a quantitative analysis using data from the Ecuadorian Customs Service (SENAE) and the Central Bank of Ecuador. Findings reveal that China’s retail e-commerce increasingly dominates global digital markets, while the continuous rise of small-scale imports in Ecuador constitutes emerging “digital micro-expenses” that negatively affect both the domestic economy and individual finances.
Vizcaíno et al. (Fri,) studied this question.