China rails at EU foreign-subsidy rules, but is its M&A really treated unfairly?
By Andrew Boyce and Lewis Crofts ( September 21, 2026, 15:04 GMT | Comment) -- Chinese companies were complaining that the EU's Foreign Subsidy Regulation would be unfair to them long before it even came into force. A recent flashpoint was Beijing's block on cooperation with an EU probe of Chinese electronics giant JD.com’s deal to buy European rival Ceconomy. But after three years of the FSR, data for M&A activity show the European Commission has held off Chinese deals — an approach that JD.com's case will test.The EU’s foreign subsidy rules have attracted complaints from Chinese companies over “unfair treatment” since long before they actually came into play in 2023....
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