China could weaponise antitrust: The Asia-Pacific Tipline for 22 May 2020

The Global Times – one of the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspapers – reported last week that the country’s government is not happy about increasing attacks by the US government on Chinese high-tech companies. In response to Washington’s plan to cut off semiconductor supplies to Huawei, the Chinese government reportedly stands ready to launch antitrust investigations and other actions against major US companies, including Apple, Qualcomm, Cisco and Boeing. That move would mark a sharp change in direction for China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, which has stayed out of the political fray as it positions itself as a potent competition enforcer.