Alibaba, JD.com and Temu owner Pinduoduo are all launching multi-billion dollar initiatives to help Chinese e-commerce businesses that typically export products reach buyers within the country instead. (The Financial Times)

Talking point: Tariffs of 145 per cent on Chinese goods shipped to the U.S. and the cancelling of a duties exemption for packages worth less than US$800 have threatened these sellers’ business models. To help them stay afloat, tech giants are procuring products from domestic firms and spending money to help merchants market their products and change their business models. China’s commerce ministry has also promised to help businesses cope with the effects of the U.S.-led trade war. Supporting Beijing’s push to bolster domestic businesses is good for the tech firms’ reputations and could earn them political goodwill amid a patriotic mood in China, similar to the one sweeping Canada.