(Yicai) April 14 -- Chinese online retail giant JD.Com and Alibaba Group Holding’s Freshippo grocery chain are bringing out initiatives to help exporters impacted by steep US import tariffs sell their wares in the domestic market.

JD.Com will buy at least CNY200 billion (USD27.4 billion) of products from firms that previously relied on exports and sell them in China through its e-commerce and logistics channels, the Beijing-based company announced on April 11.

JD.Com will set up a special procurement and sales team to buy directly from selected exporters, as well as create a special section on its e-commerce site to promote these products and shield them from low-price competition.

The internet retailer also plans to offer various subsidies and resources to foreign trade merchants that open stores on its platforms to help them quickly expand into the Chinese market.

Freshippo said on the same day that it will open a green channel for exporters seeking to open shops on its platform, shortening their review and certification process. The company will then create a special section on its site to help them reach Chinese consumers and support them in developing new products that better meet domestic demand.

These initiatives can help foreign trade enterprises quickly shift to the Chinese market and connect with domestic customers, as well as ease their short-term financial pressure, Gao Changchun, deputy secretary-general of the China Cross-Border E-Commerce 50 People Forum, told Yicai.

Moreover, the digital tools provided by large e-commerce platforms can also help exporters optimize their supply chains and accurately match market demand, Gao added.

A cross-border seller of electric skateboards told Yicai that direct procurement by the e-commerce platforms suits his company because it allows the firm to add a new sales channel without additional major investment.

The move is a win-win situation, as online platforms can provide customers with more high-quality products, while exporters can quickly reach a domestic audience, Wang Yujian, a member of Shenzhen’s expert committee for logistics and supply chain, told Yicai. 

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione