EU Consumer Protection Requirements in Digital Markets: A Corporate Governance Analysis for Chinese Enterprises Operations in Europe

This study examines the European Union's comprehensive consumer protection framework in digital markets and its implications for Chinese enterprises operating in the EU. By analyzing landmark regulations including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the Data Act, the research reveals how EU laws create a sophisticated regulatory ecosystem that fundamentally reshapes the market dynamics through enhanced consumer protections. The study identifies three critical challenges for Chinese companies: substantially high compliance costs for SMEs, institutional asymmetries between Chinese business practices and EU regulatory philosophy, and geopolitical dimensions beyond technical compliance. Through structural analysis and case studies, this paper demonstrates that Chinese enterprises can transform regulatory compliance from a cost burden into a strategic advantage by adopting three interconnected approaches. These approaches include collaborative optimization with European partners, the internalization of consumer protection standards into business processes, and the development of future-oriented adaptive strategies. The findings contribute to understanding regulatory capitalism in digital markets and provide actionable insights for Chinese businesses seeking sustainable growth in the EU's highly regulated yet lucrative digital economy.