JD Tries to Capitalize on Alibaba’s Weakness to Woo Global Brands

As China’s expanding middle-class population fuels demand for high-quality imported products, JD.com (JD) and Alibaba (BABA) are racing against each other to woo foreign brands to connect with Chinese consumers through their platforms. If a recent comment by JD’s cofounder and CEO, Richard Liu, is any indicator, the company could capitalize on Alibaba’s struggle with brand piracy to undercut it in competition to woo foreign brands looking to sell in China.