European companies have lashed out at the Chinese government’s renewed crackdown on alleged violations of the country’s anti-monopoly law, saying that they have been subject to “intimidation tactics” by officials who have unfairly targeted foreign businesses.
In a rare public backlash, the Beijing-based European Chamber of Commerce in China yesterday issued what it described as a “consolidated stance” from member companies that had been targeted by antitrust investigations over the past year.
“The European Chamber has received numerous alarming anecdotal accounts from a number of sectors that administrative intimidation tactics are being used to impel companies to accept punishments and remedies without full hearings,” the group said in a statement.