{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T13:41:49Z","timestamp":1777383709959,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,2]],"date-time":"2025-09-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756771200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Sichuan Social Science Planned Key Research Project","award":["SCJ23ND61"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["SCJ23ND61"]}]},{"name":"Sichuan Social Science Planned Key Research Project","award":["ZYGX2022FRJH004"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["ZYGX2022FRJH004"]}]},{"name":"Sichuan Social Science Planned Key Research Project","award":["2024-N01"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024-N01"]}]},{"name":"2022 Central Chinese University Fundamental Research Program for Humanities and Social Science Cultivation Key Project","award":["SCJ23ND61"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["SCJ23ND61"]}]},{"name":"2022 Central Chinese University Fundamental Research Program for Humanities and Social Science Cultivation Key Project","award":["ZYGX2022FRJH004"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["ZYGX2022FRJH004"]}]},{"name":"2022 Central Chinese University Fundamental Research Program for Humanities and Social Science Cultivation Key Project","award":["2024-N01"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024-N01"]}]},{"name":"Regional funded Studies of the Ministry of Education of China","award":["SCJ23ND61"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["SCJ23ND61"]}]},{"name":"Regional funded Studies of the Ministry of Education of China","award":["ZYGX2022FRJH004"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["ZYGX2022FRJH004"]}]},{"name":"Regional funded Studies of the Ministry of Education of China","award":["2024-N01"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024-N01"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JTAER"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This paper examines the risks linked to E-business collaboration between China and West Africa, with particular emphasis on Ghana as a pivotal digital commerce centre. This research employs the Hesitant Fuzzy Best\u2013Worst Method (HF-BWM) to systematically identify and prioritise the institutional, technological, sociocultural, and legal issues affecting cross-border e-business operations. This study combines Transaction Cost Theory (TCT), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Commitment\u2013Trust Theory to create a comprehensive framework for analysing the interplay of these risks and their effects on transaction costs and company sustainability. The findings indicate that institutional risks constitute the most substantial obstacles, with deficient digital transaction legislation and inadequate data governance recognised as the principal drivers of uncertainty and increased transaction costs. The research indicates that these institutional challenges necessitate immediate focus, as they immediately affect corporate operations, especially in international digital commerce. Technological risks, such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities, insufficient IT skills, and deficiencies in digital infrastructure, were identified as the second most critical factors, leading to considerable operational disruptions and heightened expenses. Sociocultural hazards, such as language difficulties and varying consumer behaviours, were recognised as moderate concerns that, although significant, exert a weaker cumulative impact than technological and institutional challenges. Eventually, legal risks, especially concerning cybercrime legislation and the protection of intellectual property, were identified as substantial complicators of e-business activities, increasing the intricacy of legal compliance and cross-border contract enforcement. The results underscore the imperative for regulatory reforms, investments in cybersecurity, and methods for cultural adaptation to alleviate the identified risks and promote sustainable growth in China\u2013West Africa e-business relationships. This study offers practical insights for governments, business leaders, and investors to effectively manage the intricate risk landscape and make educated decisions that foster enduring collaboration and trust between China and West Africa in digital trade.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jtaer20030233","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,2]],"date-time":"2025-09-02T13:01:13Z","timestamp":1756818073000},"page":"233","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Hesitant Fuzzy-BWM Risk Evaluation Framework for E-Business Supply Chain Cooperation for China\u2013West Africa Digital Trade"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Shurong","family":"Zhao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"},{"name":"Center for West African Studies, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-4847-6714","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammed Gadafi","family":"Tamimu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for West African Studies, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"},{"name":"School of Management and Economics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"}]},{"given":"Ailing","family":"Luo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"},{"name":"Center for West African Studies, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"}]},{"given":"Tiantian","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"}]},{"given":"Yongxing","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"},{"name":"Center for West African Studies, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu 611731, China"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4422","DOI":"10.1007\/s13132-024-02128-z","article-title":"Comparative analysis of digital economy-driven innovation development in China: An international perspective","volume":"16","author":"Shi","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. 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