BHP-Rio could provoke China regulatory tussle.

The article reports that the competition review of the proposed joint venture (JV) between BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto PLC could lead to an internal fight between Chinese regulators, who want to assert their jurisdiction over the Anti-Monopoly Law (AML). A senior Chinese official called the tie-up "monopolistic" and many expect the government to employ the country's Anti-Monopoly Law to thwart the deal. Kirstie Nicholson, of counsel at Lovells in Shanghai, says both the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC) will want to be seen to have had a say in this case.