MOC denies anti-monopoly probes caused July FDI drop  

7月外商直接投资大幅回落 官方回应与反垄断无关

最新数据显示，今年7月，中国实际使用外资金额78.1亿美元，同比下降16.95%。今年前7个月，实际使用外资金额711.4亿美元（折合4381亿元人民币），同比下降0.35%。在被问及FDI大幅下滑是否与近期对外资企业的密集的反垄断调查有关时，商务部新闻发言人沈丹阳在例行新闻发布会上明确给出了否认。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has denied that the drop in foreign direct investment (FDI) during July was caused by recent anti-monopoly investigations, according to Xinhuanet on Monday.

FDI into the Chinese mainland slumped 16.95 percent from July a year earlier, to $7.81 billion, the MOC revealed. Besides, in the first seven months, FDI stood at $71.14 billion, down 0.35 percent from the same period last year.

MOC spokesman Shen Danyang said that short-term fluctuations in FDI figures were normal, with China speeding up economic restructuring. "Such fluctuations are not the results of anti-monopoly probes, or evidence of changing trends," he commented.

Shen added that official investigations into foreign-funded companies occurred by the book. "We understand some company and institutional complaints about it, but still believe investigations won't scare them away and that most companies would continue doing business in China."

China has conducted intensive anti-monopoly probes, especially into the vehicle industry, during the last month. A number of foreign carmakers have cut auto-part prices in response, though some, including BMW and Audi dealers, still got fined.