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International relations

Great antitrust wall of China stands in way of global M&A

Megadeals now subject to Beijing's whims as trade war heats up

Qualcomm dropped its takeover bid for Dutch peer NXP Semiconductors after Chinese authorities stalled the deal, forcing the American chip company to rethink its strategy.   © Reuters

TOKYO/NEW YORK -- The Chinese competition watchdog is throwing global companies' M&A strategies into disarray as the final barrier to these deals, drawing criticism for opaque inner workings that tend to promote Beijing's industrial policy.

Wednesday's decision to let the clock run out on U.S. chip company Qualcomm's planned acquisition of Dutch automotive chip manufacturer NXP Semiconductors has drawn heavy criticism beyond Chinese shores.

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