• Most Popular
  • Most Shared

CORRECTED - CORRECTED-China urges Europe to reject BHP bid for Rio-paper

Sun Oct 5, 2008 9:28pm EDT

Stocks

   

(Corrects value of deal in lead)

China

SYDNEY, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A senior Chinese government official urged European regulators to reject BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc's (BPH.AX)(BLT.L) $89 billion bid for Rio Tinto Ltd/PLC (RIO.AX)(RIO.L), saying it would be harmful to the global economy, the Sydney Morning Herald paper reported.

Speaking at a conference in Melbourne at the weekend Xiaoye Wang, senior adviser to China's State Council and National People's Congress, also said the deal would hurt China and should be reviewed by the country's anti-monopoly agency.

"China is the biggest consumer of iron ore products and 40 percent is from Australia. After the merger there will be two competitors only. I believe this is harmful for competition," Wang was quoted saying.

Wang, who helped draft China's anti-trust law which came into force on Aug. 1, said China had no regulatory jurisdiction over any deal between BHP and Rio.

But she said: "I hope very much European regulators will reject it."

Last week, BHP got clearance for its bid from Australia's competition regulator.

The European Commission has set a Jan. 15 deadline for its in depth review of the deal, having previously flagged its concerns about the impact of surging commodity prices on manufacturers and consumers. (Reporting by James Thornhill; Editing by Sonali Paul)



More from Reuters

Photo

Investors seen jumping the gun on airport security

BANGALORE (Reuters) - Investors' optimism surrounding the shares of airport security systems makers could be premature as interest in the companies' products after the Christmas Day plane scare is not expected to translate into immediate orders.

An employee swipes a customer's credit card through the card reader at a restaurant in Tokyo February 19, 2005.REUTERS/Issei Kato

Taking a swipe at credit cards

New legislation meant to protect consumers could be a "game changer" for the industry -- and not in a good way.  Full Article 

A traveller lifts her arms as she stands in the new security scan at Schiphol airport, Netherlands, May 15, 2007.REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Are you ok getting "naked"?

Full-body scanners can detect weapons under clothing but also expose passengers to operators. Should security trump privacy?  Full Article | Video