China’s second-largest e-commerce company JD.com Inc said it has sent a letter of complaint to a Chinese antitrust regulator and formally requested an investigation into rival Alibaba Group Holding.
The complaint concerns a State Administration for Industry and Commerce regulation that forbids e-commerce platforms from limiting or barring their merchants from participating in promotions on other platforms. The regulation came into effect on Oct. 1.
JD.com said in its letter that it has received information from merchants indicating that Alibaba, which dominates Chinese e-commerce, is “forcing merchants” to choose to exclusively deal with one e-commerce site during promotional activities.
If merchants choose to participate in certain promotional activities on Alibaba’s Tmall website during the upcoming Singles’ Day online shopping event around Nov. 11, they “are not permitted” to participate in other platforms activities, otherwise “Alibaba will carry out punishment or sanctions”, JD.com said it had been informed by sellers on its site.
“JD is panicking because Alibaba wins with customers and merchants because we provide a superior experience for users on our platforms,” said Jim Wilkinson, senior vice president of international corporate affairs for Alibaba Group.
Full content: Reuters
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Uruguayan Antitrust Scrutiny Puts Major Meatpacking Deal Between Marfrig and Minerva on Hold
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Alaska Airlines Seeks Dismissal of Consumer Lawsuit Over $1.9 Billion Hawaiian Airlines Buy
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Idaho Attorney General Orders Split of Kootenai Health and Syringa Hospital
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Court Rejects T-Mobile’s Appeal Bid in Antitrust Case Over Sprint Merger
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Google Requests Judge, Not Jury, to Decide on Antitrust Case
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Mapping Antitrust onto Digital Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystems and Competition Law: A Law and Political Economy Approach
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystem Theories of Harm: What is Beyond the Buzzword?
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Open Ecosystems: Benefits, Challenges, and Implications for Antitrust
May 9, 2024 by
CPI