The new trade war: Will Amazon succeed in withstanding the Chinese eCommerce invasion?

The new trade war: Will Amazon succeed in withstanding the Chinese eCommerce invasion?

In 2026, global trade will no longer be conducted by the same old rules. The three major Chinese platforms—Temu, Shein, and TikTok Shop—have fundamentally transformed global purchasing behavior, with consumers prioritizing lower prices and faster delivery over brand or guaranteed quality. This model, known as D2C (Direct-to-Consumer), has bypassed traditional intermediaries, long supply chains, and local retailers, becoming one of the most powerful business trends of the current decade. How did these Chinese platforms manage to disrupt the established order? These platforms rely on a hyper-fast, AI-powered logistics system: On-demand production: Factories begin with very small quantities (sometimes only 100–500 items), and the platform then monitors engagement (likes, shares, views, and additions to cart). Rapid Scaling: If a product generates high engagement, mass production is launched within hours, and it's shipped directly to consumers by air within 7–12 days. Smart Prediction: Al…