Alicia Kearns urged UK Parliament to probe JD.com’s Joybuy UK launch and its bids for Currys and Argos after its €2.2bn offer for Ceconomy. The UK will eliminate the £135 de minimis duty threshold in October 2028, sharpening competition for Amazon’s UK operations against state-subsidised rivals.
JD.com entered the UK market under its Joybuy brand and has explored takeover bids for Currys and Argos, following a €2.2bn offer for German retailer Ceconomy, signalling an aggressive expansion beyond China.
Shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns has urged Parliament to scrutinise these moves, warning that Chinese state subsidies could give JD.com an unfair competitive edge in the UK retail sector.
The Treasury announced plans to remove the £135 de minimis import duty threshold in October 2028, aiming to close a loophole that allows overseas retailers to undercut domestic sellers on small parcels.
These developments intensify competition in the UK e-commerce market, potentially pressuring Amazon’s pricing, logistics and market share as it faces state-subsidised rivals with growing acquisitions ambitions.
