Finance

China halts cooperation with EU investigation into MediaMarkt acquisition

The Chinese government has forbidden JD.com from cooperating with an EU investigation into the MediaMarkt acquisition, which it considers improper.

20 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: China halts cooperation with EU investigation into MediaMarkt acquisition — Archive photoPhoto: N509FZ · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The Chinese government has instructed JD.com, a major player in e-commerce, not to participate in the European Commission's investigation into the acquisition of MediaMarkt. The investigation concerns the takeover of the German company Ceconomy, which owns MediaMarkt and its sister chain Saturn, valued at €2.2 billion.

According to China, the European Commission has arbitrarily requested extensive and unnecessary information about China. This has led to the Chinese government's decision to halt JD.com's cooperation with the investigation.

China has designated the investigation as improper and announced that it may take possible measures. This statement was made by the Chinese Ministry of Justice, which has also requested other involved parties not to cooperate.

The developments are notable, as the investigation into JD.com's acquisition of MediaMarkt in Europe has been monitored for some time. The involvement of the Chinese government in this matter could have implications for the legal and financial aspects of the acquisition.

This incident highlights the tensions between the Chinese government and European authorities and illustrates the complex dynamics surrounding international acquisitions.

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