BizChina

China's Ministry of Commerce opened an antidumping investigation into U.S. exports of a livestock feed that the U.S. farm industry lobby has sought to promote among Chinese feed mills, the latest in a series of trade actions Beijing has started against major trading partners.

The ministry said in a statement Tuesday it plans to look for any evidence of dumping of distillers dried grains, or DDG, from July 2009 to this past June, but may widen the window to see if there was any harm to China's industry starting from 2007.

China also slapped antidumping duties on U.S. chicken this year, accusing the U.S. of subsidizing its poultry industry and hurting China's domestic industry.

U.S. farm interests have viewed DDG, a byproduct created when corn is turned into ethanol, as a big new trade opportunity in China. Imports rose strongly this year as some in China's farm sector chose it over corn as a feedmeal for livestock, in part because it is relatively higher in protein and fiber.

Wal-Mart (WMT) has taken a stake in 360buy JingDong Mall, the leading China-based online seller of consumer electronics and communications gear, Reuters reports. The story says 360buy disclosed that it has received $500 million in funding from six strategic partners, including Wal-Mart. The size of the retail giant’s investment was not disclosed.

Among 360buy’s rivals: E-Commerce China Dangdang (DANG), which recently completed an IPO in the U.S., selling 17 million American depositary shares at $16; the shares now traded for $28 and change.

Wal-Mart itself no slouch when it comes to retailing in China: The company on its Web site says that as of August 5 it had 189 stores in 101 cities, creating over 50,000 jobs. The company also operates an online version of its Sam’s Club unit in China.

China’s biggest telecom equipment maker, Huawei Technologies, and one of its biggest Internet companies, Tencent, are teaming up to offer smartphones based on Google’s Android software preloaded with Tencent applications.

The phones, besides tapping the popularity of Tencent services including its QQ instant-messaging program, could also benefit from a low price compared to most Android phones: 1,000 yuan before any operator subsidy, or about $151, according to a Huawei spokeswoman.

The “HiQQ” phones will come with 19 Tencent applications, including its QQ chat program, a mobile browser and social-networking service Qzone. Tencent had 636.6 million active instant-messaging user accounts at the end of September. Many of its users talk to friends on QQ via mobile phone.

Volkswagen AG and PSA Peugeot Citroën SA are considering developing China-only brands with their local partners in the country, people familiar the situation said, joining a growing trend among foreign auto makers targeting surging demand for low-cost cars.

Volkswagen is in discussions with one of its two Chinese partners about the possibility of starting a new jointly run brand, a person close to the German auto maker said.

"The talks have been going on for some time, and they are in their final stage," the person said. He wouldn't say which of VW's partners, SAIC Motor Corp. or FAW Group Corp., it is discussing the matter with, or otherwise elaborate.

Separately, Timothy Zimmerman, a senior China-based executive at Peugeot, said parent company PSA Peugeot Citroen of France is looking into an opportunity to start an additional brand for China and is discussing it with partner Dongfeng Motor Group Co.

"We want to pursue this only if there is a place in the market for it, and if it is profitable," the Beijing-based executive said. He said PSA Peugeot Citroen and Dongfeng have launched a joint study group to look into the move.