China warns online platform companies to halt anti-competitive practices

China’s market regulator on Tuesday met with nearly three dozen internet “platform” companies including Tencent, ByteDance and JD.com and ordered them to conduct self-inspections to ensure they are not using banned practices including forcing vendors to use their platform exclusively.

The directive to 34 companies from the State Administration for Market Regulation comes as China conducts widening reforms to stamp out anti-competitive behavior in its booming e-commerce sector.