César calls for equal access to digital commerce for Azores
Azores-elected Socialist deputy Francisco César urged national action over unavailable products and shipping charges for the islands.
Socialist deputy Francisco César said the Government of the Republic should ensure that Azoreans and Madeirans are not treated as second-class Portuguese in access to digital commerce. César, a deputy elected by the Azores electoral circle, spoke during a hearing with the Regional Inspectorate of Economic Activities of the Azores (IRAE) in the Committee on Infrastructure, Mobility and Housing.
He said national and international platforms still do not make certain products available to Azorean consumers, citing Amazon as an example of a platform that does not sell certain products to the Azores.
César said it is possible to check whether additional shipping charges correspond to transport costs or include other amounts because an order is destined for the Azores or Madeira. He said enforcement should examine transport invoices and compare them with the amounts charged to consumers.
He said legislation allows penalties for surcharges that amount to price discrimination between different parts of national territory. César also asked whether the Azores' contributions to national inspection reports for 2023 and 2024 had been sent and, if not, the reason for the delay and an expected sending date.
This site previously reported that a PSD deputy raises online shopping geoblocking with Brussels.
Sources
Azores Guide
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