Amazon deal with FTZ

Chinese consumers will be able to buy products directly from Amazon's international websites from the fourth quarter after a deal was reached between the e-commerce giant and two local partners last week.

The United States-based company said it has signed agreements with the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Shanghai Information Investment Ltd (SII) to develop the first cross-border e-commerce market on China's mainland. The arrangement will give consumers access to all products available through Amazon's overseas sites and allow Chinese sellers to access the company's global customer base. Consumers will be able to access a world of products through SII's cross-border platform. Goods ordered via the system are expected to take seven to 10 days to deliver, SII said.