Germany blocks purchase of Chinese semiconductor factory

Electronic components using semiconductors on a computer motherboard, February 25, 2022. © FLORENCE LO / REUTERS

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Germany rejected Wednesday, November 9 the takeover of two companies manufacturing semiconductors by Chinese investors.

Berlin fears for its strategic interests and wants to toughen its policy towards Beijing.

Recently, a positive decision approving a Chinese participation in the port of Hamburg had caused a lively controversy in Germany.

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With our correspondent in Berlin,

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Economy Minister, environmentalist Robert Habeck, rejected the takeover of two German semiconductor companies coveted by Chinese investors.

Berlin believes that corporate takeovers should be scrutinized when important infrastructure is at stake or when technological know-how risks being transferred abroad.

The government has drawn up a roadmap vis-à-vis China which is intended to be more restrictive than in the past.

Intelligence services had advised against one of the two acquisitions, although industry experts believe that the company's technology is a bit dusty.

This time, the agreement on these files was made without a hitch within the German government.

The recent Chinese acquisition of a stake in one of the terminals of the port of Hamburg had been

against the advice of several of his ministers.

The decision had provoked a violent controversy and massive rejection, according to a poll among Germans.

►To listen also: Today the economy - Semiconductors: Washington declares war on Beijing

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