The article provides a statistical analysis of the trends in the development of e-commerce in the world in general and in China in particular, a comparative legal analysis of the system of legal regulation of key aspects affecting the functioning of e-commerce in the European Union and in the People’s Republic of China (further PRC). The research methodology is based on a systematic approach and includes the methods of the general scientific group (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction), as well as special methods: statistical analysis, content analysis of scientific literature on the research topic, the method of comparative legal analysis. As a result of the study, the author came to the conclusion that the legislation of China and the European Union regarding the regulation of e-commerce is aimed at fundamentally different goals: in the EU, legislation is aimed at protecting private transactions and trade, and for China, the priority is the development of legal norms that allow the state as much as possible control electronic commercial flows and procuring a cybersecurity in e-commerce sector.