New anti-monopoly law eyed

The government will consider an anti-monopoly bill in 2006, along with legislation to deal with state assets, unfair competition, and corporate taxes, state media reported. The draft law, which would challenge domestic and multinational companies' market power, must be approved by the NPC. It would cover a wider range of anticompetitive activities than current laws, but critics said it could be used to make multi-nationals give up valuable technology and markets.