JD.com (NASDAQ:JD), the second-largest Chinese e-commerce company, said it would start selling U.S. products to customers in China through a new store on its website, as it looks to battle competition from bigger competitor Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:BABA)
Both companies have recently started exclusive stores that offer products from countries including Japan, France, South Korea and Australia.
JD.com also said yesterday that it would be the first authorized seller of Taylor Swift merchandise in China, which will include a line of clothes designed by the singer exclusively for JD.com customers.
The U.S. mall platform will sell imported U.S. apparel, cosmetics and electronics, ranging from Nautica Kids apparel to an exclusive clothing line designed by singer Taylor Swift.
JD.com and Alibaba have been vying to attract big, international brands onto their sites.
Bagging international names can be a huge credibility boost and a sign of implicit trust in China, a market notorious for the proliferation of fake and knock-off products.
In April, JD.com launched a platform to rival Alibaba’s site in enabling foreign companies to sell to Chinese consumers without having to set up shop in the country.
Chinese e-commerce firms are trying to capitalize on the country’s hundreds of millions of online consumers who are increasingly buying products from overseas.
ADRs of JD.com were up 0.2 percent to $35.13, and Alibaba shares were up 0.4 percent at $83.01.