China Fines Trip.com $765 Million for Monopoly Abuse After 5.2 Billion Yuan Probe
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 25
China Fines Trip.com $765 Million for Monopoly Abuse After 5.2 Billion Yuan Probe
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 25
Summary
Chinese regulators imposed 5.18 billion yuan, or about $765 million, on Trip.com after a monthslong antitrust investigation into the country’s biggest travel-booking platform.
The State Administration for Market Regulation said Trip.com used traffic-allocation rules and technology to entrench its dominance, restricting hotels from operating across rival platforms and limiting their pricing freedom.
The watchdog said those practices harmed consumer interests; a related breakdown put total penalties near 5.2 billion yuan, including a 3.5 billion yuan fine, 1.6 billion yuan in confiscated gains and 122 million yuan in refunds.
The case adds to China’s broader scrutiny of dominant internet platforms, with Trip.com accused of using exclusive hotel ties and lowest-rate demands since 2020.