Amazon, Oracle, Mr. Beast?! The TikTok bidding war gets wild

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• Boost with Amazon Business Prime 💳
• From store to juggernaut with Walmart Marketplace 🛒
• Walmart’s tariff dilemma 💥
• Asia’s trade shift 🌏
• TikTok bidding war 🎥

TRENDING TOPIC

TikTok is once again at the center of a high-stakes power play. With 170 million U.S. users and a looming April 5 deadline, the clock is ticking for ByteDance to sell—or see the app banned in the U.S. 

But former President Donald Trump? The Daily Tribune reported that he’s confident a buyer will emerge before the cutoff. And he might be right.

🔍 The battle to save TikTok

With time running out, major players—from tech giants to unexpected bidders—are making moves.

• Investors' plan: Existing U.S. investors may roll their stakes into a new, independent global TikTok entity. Trump has even suggested that the U.S. government could take a stake.
• Oracle’s role: Already hosting TikTok’s U.S. data, Oracle is positioned as a key player in any deal.
• Surprise bidders: AI startup Perplexity and YouTube superstar MrBeast have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok.
• Amazon’s power move: In a shocking last-minute play, Amazon has submitted a bid for TikTok, shaking up the conversation.

💃 What's next for TikTok?

Despite once calling for a ban, Trump now fiercely defends TikTok, acknowledging its influence on young voters. And if a deal isn’t reached? He’s ready to extend the deadline.

Even more shocking? Trump is considering slashing China tariffs to sweeten the deal for Beijing.

A tech showdown, high-stakes negotiations, and billion-dollar bids—who will win the battle for TikTok?

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• Indian Seller Fees Slashed: Amazon India will cut referral fees on eligible products to boost seller growth.
• Walmart’s Super Savings Week: Walmart's first online-only sale offered big discounts across a wide range of products.

HOT TOPIC

China forces Walmart into a price dilemma over tariff costs

According to CNN, Walmart thought it could strong-arm China-based suppliers into absorbing Trump’s 20% tariffs. But China isn’t in the business of rolling over. Instead, Beijing is making it clear that even the world’s largest retailer doesn’t call the shots. 

Now, Walmart faces a tough choice: hike prices and anger U.S. shoppers or push suppliers harder and risk a full-blown backlash from China.

🌎 The bigger picture

Walmart’s tariff troubles reveal the broader reality of global trade:

• China can and will push back. Officials stepped in after reports that Walmart demanded price cuts of up to 10%. The Chinese government is now blacklisting PVH and investigating Google for alleged anti-monopoly violations. 🐉
• When Walmart struggles, everyone does. If even retail’s biggest player is feeling the pinch, smaller businesses are in for a rough ride. With Walmart pulling in $17B in China-based sales last year, the last thing they want is to burn bridges. 🛍️
• There are plenty of fish in the sea. Walmart isn’t locked into China—it has suppliers in over 70 countries. And on the flip side, China has plenty of willing trade partners beyond the U.S. 🐟

Despite the tension, Walmart is better positioned than most—it still sources two-thirds of its products domestically. Maybe it’s time to consider more local suppliers yourself. 

When trade wars hit, homegrown suppliers could be your safest bet.

ECOMMERCE NEWS

Asia's power players team up for a new trade era

The Logistics Insider reported that for the first time in five years, China, Japan, and South Korea have come together for crucial economic talks.

While some speculated that this was a direct response to the growing pressure from U.S. tariffs, South Korea has downplayed the idea, calling it “somewhat exaggerated.” 

However, one thing’s clear—trade cooperation is heating up.

❓ What’s on the horizon?

• Trilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Discussions are picking up pace as the three countries aim to solidify their economic relationships.
• Product shuffle: China is looking to purchase chip products from Japan and South Korea, while those two countries are eager to secure semiconductor materials from China.
• Stronger trade policies: There's a renewed focus on implementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and coordinating efforts on export controls.

The next ministerial trade meeting will be hosted in Japan.

🔑 Sellers can take a page from these discussions. In times of uncertainty, collaboration and open communication are the true drivers of resilient supply chains.

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