eBay has formed a strategic alliance with Global Sources Ltd. to create inventory-sourcing opportunities for eBay PowerSellers in China and globally.

Global Sources Ltd. will make possible for its clients to post merchandise on eBay's Chinese marketplace eBay EachNet, and the service will be provided worldwide via eBay's Reseller Marketplace, an off-eBay B2B website designed to help eBay PowerSellers source products for resale on the eBay marketplace.

eBay Asia regional vice president Jay Lee said, "One of eBay's goals is to enable our community of users to become more successful. By teaming up with Global Sources, we can help our PowerSellers around the world find a new and easy way to source product directly from manufacturers in Asia and especially in China. We think this is a powerful idea that can help our high-volume sellers further expand their businesses."

The move heats up the rivalry between eBay and its Chinese competitor Alibaba.com. Alibaba currently markets its business-to-businesses (B2B) marketplace to eBay PowerSellers in the U.S., allowing powersellers to acquire inventory at wholesale prices to resell on eBay.com (http://www.alibaba.com). Alibaba's consumer auction site Taobao has been competing fiercely with eBay EachNet in China and also offers an online payment system in China called AliPay.