As mentioned a couple months ago, some countries had expressed concerns that China was placing restrictions on foreign providers of news-related financial information services. Things seem to be heating up. As reported by the AP:
The United States has told China to get serious about loosening restrictions on foreign news agencies, in what could be a last chance to talk before the U.S. files a complaint with the WTO over Chinese trade policy, the Associated Press learned Wednesday.
In a letter to Chinese trade officials, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative signaled it has run out of patience with China's refusal to change rules introduced two years ago that appeared to boost the official Xinhua News Agency at the expense of news and financial information companies such as Reuters Group PLC and Bloomberg LP.
As noted, this article was from the AP. I'll be curious to see how Reuters, Bloomberg and Xinhua cover the dispute.
ADDED: Here is a Reuters article. They don't seem to be taking the issue too personally.
AND here comes the EU as well.
