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EU actions against Chinese e‑commerce platforms

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2026-08-20 05:31 UTC → 2026-08-20 18:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, the European Commission invoked its new Foreign Subsidies Regulation for the first time, issuing a formal statement of grounds against JD.com’s €2.5 billion bid to acquire Germany’s Ceconomy. The charge alleges that the Chinese retailer may have benefited from state subsidies, and warns that the deal could be blocked or require remedies before the October 2 deadline. In response to the investigation, China has ordered domestic entities to cease assisting the EU probe. Beijing’s Ministry of Justice condemned the investigation as an exercise of “improper extraterritorial jurisdiction” and a “serious violation of the international rule of law,” warning that it will “resolutely retaliate” if the process continues. While the German Federal Cartel Office has approved the acquisition, the EU investigation remains ongoing. As of August 19, 2026, tensions have escalated as China continues to order domestic entities to refuse cooperation with the Brussels-led probe. In an attempt to address regulatory concerns, JD.com has offered concessions to the European Commission regarding market competition, though the specific details of these offers have not been disclosed. The final decision from the EU Commission is expected by early October 2026. Separately, in early August 2026, the Commission levied a record €550 million fine on the Chinese marketplace AliExpress for breaches of the EU Digital Services Act. The penalty, which must be paid in a single instalment, cites failures to assess and mitigate systemic risks, allowing illegal or unsafe products to remain on the platform. AliExpress must submit an action plan by 20 October 2026, after which the European Board for Digital Services will review the plan to determine further enforcement measures. Together, these actions illustrate a broader EU push to enforce its competition, subsidy, and digital-service rules against major Chinese e-commerce operators, signaling heightened regulatory scrutiny and growing diplomatic friction.

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