The Alstom-Siemens merger was rejected on February 9, in large part because EU competition authorities assessed that the firms’ position within the European rail technology market remained dominant. Though unsuccessful, the enthusiasm of Siemens and Alstom to merge their operations highlights real and growing concerns about the environment among international infrastructure and industrial firms. The emergence and internationalization of large Chinese (often state-owned) conglomerates create intense competitive pressures that extend beyond near-term threats within the EU market – and well beyond the rail sector.
