Labour urged to investigate Chinese retailer JD.com’s UK expansion

RegulationGeopolitics
โดย The Telegraph·Read original
Summary · why it matters

Shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns has called on the government to investigate Chinese online retail giant JD.com over fears its UK expansion poses an unfair threat to the high street. Kearns said JD.com, which recently launched in Britain under the Joybuy brand and has eyed takeovers of Currys, Argos, and Very Group, must be scrutinised for potentially benefiting from Chinese state subsidies. Her intervention follows a European Commission in-depth inquiry into whether JD.com received foreign subsidies that distorted the EU market, prompted by its €2.2 billion bid for German retailer Ceconomy. Kearns argued it is fundamentally unfair to expect British companies to compete with Chinese groups receiving subsidies that would be illegal in Europe, and called for the expansion plans to be blocked if necessary for economic security. Luke de Pulford of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China also urged a clampdown on tax loopholes that exempt sub-£135 imports from customs duties, a rule the government plans to close by October 2028. A JD.com spokesman said the Ceconomy bid is funded by private bank debt and cash from ordinary activities, not foreign subsidies, and that Joybuy offers great value and fast delivery to over 17 million Brits.

Impact on stocks 4

Consumer Discretionary± Mixed · 3 stocks
Jd Com Inc
9618
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

UK investigation into state subsidies and potential block on expansion

Currys PLC
CURY
▲ PositiveCompetitionrelevance

JD.com's takeover threat may be blocked, reducing competitive pressure

Ceconomy AG
CEC
▲ PositiveCompetitionrelevance

EU inquiry into JD.com's bid for Ceconomy may hinder its acquisition

Artificial Intelligence · 1 stocks

Theme Impact 1

Off-coverage companies 1

The Very GroupPrivate▲ Positive
Competitionrelevance

Potential block on JD.com's takeover of Very Group reduces threat

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