China: NDRC reveals Qualcomm case details

Competition officials in China have confirmed an investigation into US chip-maker Qualcomm, affirming that the probe is looking into allegations of dominance abuse in the nation.

Reports say Qualcomm is facing fines of up to $1 billion for claims it overcharged consumers in China. The nation’s National Development and Reform Commission launched the case following complaints that the company charges higher fees in China than in other countries.

The probe is said to still be in its early phases.

Until the NDRC’s announcement, Qualcomm had no information regarding the details of the investigation.

Crackdown on foreign firms?

The confirmation of the NDRC’s Qualcomm case comes as Chinese officials denied allegations that it is targeting foreign firms in its competition probes.

The NDRC’s Xu Kunlin said there is no implicit agenda behind its probes into Qualcomm or InterDigital, which is also under watch in China.

The comments were made in response to speculation that the NDRC is looking to lower domestic 4G wireless network costs and therefore targeting foreign tech firms.

Full Content: Tech Week Europe and ECNS.cn

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