Exclusive: China launches antitrust review of food delivery sector

China's top antitrust body said on Friday that it has launched probes into the competitive conditions within the country's food delivery sector, citing concerns over intensifying price wars, heavy subsidies and traffic manipulation that regulators warn are distorting the market and squeezing the real economy.

The office of the anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition committee under the State Council said on Friday that it has begun an investigation and assessment of market competition in the food delivery services industry in accordance with China's anti-monopoly law.

In a statement to China Daily, the office explained that the investigation aims to signal regulatory concern, assess potential monopoly risks and restore orderly market competition.

Authorities will conduct on-site inspections, in-person interviews and questionnaire surveys to examine the competitive conduct of platforms and to solicit views from merchants operating on the platforms, gig workers and consumers.

The office highlighted that food delivery platforms have increasingly engaged in aggressive subsidy campaigns, price competition and traffic control practices, triggering widespread concern among businesses, workers and consumers.

These practices have intensified internal competition within the industry and placed pressure on brick-and-mortar merchants, it added.