Fears mount as European firms face tougher conditions in China

EUROPEAN firms in China expect to face even tougher regulatory policies in the next two years, a survey showed, as fears mount that Beijing is trying to shut out overseas companies.

While most of the more than 500 European companies surveyed said they were optimistic about the growth outlook for China, they were worried the country’s communist leaders would become more discriminatory against foreign firms.

Companies polled by the European Chamber of Commerce in China warned their commitment to the world’s third-largest economy was not “unconditional”, suggesting they would consider leaving if conditions deteriorated.