UK Politician Calls for Probe of JD.com’s €2.2bn Retail Expansion
AMZN•UK shadow security minister Alicia Kearns urged Parliament to probe JD.com’s London launch of the Joybuy platform and its €2.2bn bid for Ceconomy, warning of potential Argos and Very Group takeovers. The Treasury accelerated closure of the £135 de minimis duty exemption to October 2028, narrowing JD.com’s price edge.
1. Parliamentary Call for Investigation
Shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns demanded that Parliament and relevant bodies examine JD.com’s expansion in Britain under the Joybuy brand, citing the company’s state-subsidised growth and recent €2.2bn bid for Ceconomy. She highlighted potential takeover interests in Currys, Argos and Very Group as evidence of an unfair threat to domestic retailers.
2. Regulatory Actions
The European Commission has launched an in-depth inquiry into foreign subsidies supporting JD.com after concerns over Chinese state financing, tax incentives and grants. The UK Treasury meanwhile advanced plans to close the £135 de minimis customs exemption to October 2028, aiming to remove JD.com’s low-cost import advantage.
3. Competitive Implications for Amazon
The intensified scrutiny and tariff changes could benefit Amazon by reducing JD.com’s ability to undercut prices on high-street electronics and general goods. Amazon UK may face less pressure on market share if regulatory barriers slow JD.com’s takeover strategy and narrow its cost advantage.
