Amazon to open pop-up store on Chinese e-commerce platform Pinduoduo until end of the year

Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, is set to open a pop-up store on Chinese e-commerce platform Pinduoduo after withdrawing its own Chinese domestic marketplace business in July.

“The Amazon Global Store pop-up store on Pinduoduo provides customers with a curated selection of about 1,000 overseas products with competitive prices, authenticity guarantee and convenient shipping,” Amazon said in a statement, adding that the store will be available until the end of December.

Amazon has been operating in China for about 15 years – it bought local Chinese online shopping website Joyo.com in 2004 and rebranded it as Amazon China in 2011.

The US company has been shifting its strategy in the country amid fierce competition from domestic operators. About four months ago, it closed part of its e-commerce operations in China to move its focus to cross-border sales and cloud services as part of “operational adjustments”.

In the statement on Monday, Amazon said its commitment to China remains strong. “We will continue to invest and grow Amazon Global Store business in China,” it said, adding that it will focus efforts in China on cross-border sales and “to keep improving the experience for Chinese customers”.

Since July 18, Amazon users in China have not been allowed to purchase goods from third-party merchants in the country but have still been able to order goods from the US, UK, Germany and Japan through the e-commerce platform, according to previous reports by Reuters.