Shanghai’s market regulator said that its anti-monopoly office is Watch Friendsaware of price-control disputes related to the country’s top livestreamer Li Jiaqi and is currently in the process of investigation and verification, according to a Monday report by Jiupai News, a new media platform under the state-run Changjiang Daily Press Group. The controversy began on Oct. 24, when local kitchen appliance brand Huaswirt accused online retailer JD of intentionally lowering the prices of its ovens, which reportedly caused Huaswirt to violate its minimum price agreement with Li Jiaqi on Taobao Live. Li’s agency MeiOne denied the allegation shortly after. However, Li’s rival on Douyin, with the nickname “Crazy Little Brother Yang” (our translation) subsequently accused Li of “kidnapping the brand” through his huge sales appeal, which resulted in brands not being able to sell their products at a lower price via other channels. Jiupai News also cited the anti-monopoly office as saying they would deal with the issue if violations were found. [Jiupai News, in Chinese]
