Get in the way? Has Chile been lobbied to block Chinese companies from buying shares in lithium power?

Santiago: China suspects other countries are competing for resources to develop electric cars, lobbying Chile to block Chinese companies from buying shares in SQM, a top lithium battery maker, the trade representative told Reuters on Tuesday.

Former Chilean government antitrust regulators to review in March requirement to Chinese companies to sell about 30% of SQM, lithium says it will distort the global market and to the Asian giant in the strategic resources of an unfair advantage.

"We have our doubts, but we don't know why they do so," said China's trade and economic Liu Rutao for Chile, when asked if he believed that may be involved in other countries.

Chile's national development agencies Corfo put forward the complaint, but did not immediately respond to requests for comment. FNE regulators are examining complaints.

Canadian fertilizer company sell SQM40 $Nutrien equity because lithium demand and prices.

Lithium is electric cars, mobile phones and tablets rechargeable the main ingredient of the battery.

Liu said, China maintains that in the last days of march to lodge a complaint before the centre-left government has politicizing the deal, he said it should be handled to the market and regulatory agencies.

"This is a business deal, public officials (Chile) to be linked with politics, we don't want to see this," he said.

Conservative President Sebastian's skin in the new government in April, said the country would welcome any company investment lithium electricity abide by local laws.

Looking forward to the future, liu said China will give priority to invest in Chile lithium battery. South America is the world's largest copper producer, has its about half of the lithium reserves.

He said that China's investment in Chile's copper industry is only $200 million, while the world's second largest copper producer - neighbouring Peru as much as $20 billion, partly because Chinese prefer to negotiate with the government is a private enterprise.

"They are very similar, is rich in mineral resources, but the problem is that most (copper) owners are foreigners (in Chile)," he said.

"Copper is the raw material of the 21st century, lithium is the 22nd century and in the future (raw materials)," liu said.- Reuters

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