(Yicai) April 17 -- Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, has launched a special program to help Chinese exporters of premium goods shift to the domestic market, offering a suite of benefits that includes lower commission fees and interest-free loans to ease the transition.

Douyin will open an exclusive onboarding channel for businesses that used to focus on overseas markets and seek to shift to selling in China, the short-video platform said yesterday. Merchants will be able to register and list products on a new dedicated section on its recruitment site, with the entry thresholds for qualified small and medium-sized sellers further lowered with a "free entry" policy, it added.

Eligible premium product sellers will enjoy "zero-deposit" entry, lower or waived commissions, refunds on promotional fees, and other benefits, Douyin said. In addition, they can earn traffic vouchers worth up to CNY10,000 (USD1,360) by completing basic operational tasks.

Douyin plans to focus on key industrial clusters of Chinese foreign trade firms, offering one-stop support and organizing livestream events featuring factory managers to highlight production processes. The move aims to help them transition from relying on overseas orders to meeting domestic demand.

Douyin has allied with financial institutions to ease the pressure on exporters' finances, providing firms with revolving credit lines of as much as CNY1 million (USD136,100). Eligible businesses can apply online for 45-day interest-free loans within specified limitations with rapid approval.

In addition, Douyin will offer advance payment services of up to CNY1 million with zero interest on the first transaction for e-commerce merchants shifting to the domestic market. This should reduce capital constraints and support the operations of Chinese firms.

Editor: Martin Kadiev