Chile’s government is asking antitrust authorities to block the potential acquisition of a 32 percent stake in SQM by Tianqi Lithium or any other Chinese state-controlled company, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg. Corfo, Chile’s economic growth agency, has filed the request with the National Economic Prosecutor’s Office. Corfo had earlier indicated that it would prefer a bidder that was not currently involved in the lithium industry.
Nutrien is selling its 32 percent stake. Tianqi Lithium has been reported to be among the lead bidders.
Nutrien had no comment on the report.