112 NEWSLETTER 2021 e-marketplace has, the more competitive advantage it has over other competing marketplaces. However, it is also known that consumers prefer a limited number of marketplaces; that is, the number of platforms they are active on is limited. Moreover, the Report examines the growth of crucial players in the relevant market. In this context, it can be observed that the development of the e-marketplace Trendyol has drawn the attention of the Competition Authority. Trendyol has achieved a steady increase in parameters such as the consumer base, the number of visits and the number of purchases since 2018. The growth of other substantial players in the market such as N11, Hepsiburada and Amazon are also touched upon by the Report. The Competition Authority estimates that the aforementioned market has just started its development, and that concentrations will increase through the acquisitions over time. The final determination regarding the future concerns the position of the sellers in the market. In this context, the Report underlines that there is a high risk of discrimination in marketplaces that are hybrid in nature, as they adopt a business model that both operates as a platform and sells its own products. Accordingly, the hybrid marketplaces will be able to favor themselves and exclude competing sellers. Likewise, expansion of e-marketplaces’activities to other relevant markets causes conflicts of interest as well. The Report expresses concern that the entrance of the marketplaces to such relevant markets as cargo/logistics and payment systems may raise competition concerns for both sellers and undertakings in the markets. However, according to the Report, such expansions are not observed very frequently. Conclusion for Part 1 The Competition Authority’s long-awaited and perhaps the most significant sector inquiry, E-Marketplace Platforms Sector Inquiry, is expected to be completed in 2022. However, the Preliminary Report, although intended merely to express initial findings and determinations, in fact contains conclusive results in many respects. At the core of the Competition Authority’s assessments are the considerable transformations the relevant markets have undergone and the competitive concerns
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