China on Wednesday ordered organizations and individuals not to comply with an EU probe of e-commerce giant JD.com’s acquisition of a German electronics retailer, escalating tensions between Brussels and Beijing.
It’s the first Chinese takeover to be investigated under the bloc’s rules that scrutinize firms receiving foreign subsidies. Beijing said EU regulators’ request for documents “seriously undermined the international rule of law” and threatened retaliatory measures.
The clash underscores the broader difficulties Europe faces in shielding its firms from China’s industrial policies, which Brussels has blamed for costing European jobs.
One of Germany’s largest industrial associations on Wednesday urged the bloc to prioritize developing domestic robotics supply chains after shares of Chinese robot maker Unitree soared in its trading debut.