Illumina’s EU debacle sparks Dutch call for more trading powers

The Dutch competition watchdog wants to expand its powers to investigate more small deals that could crush competition in emerging technology markets, after attempts by the European Union to review them were rejected by the bloc’s top court.

The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets, or ACM, said on Thursday that the government should give it the power to investigate takeovers that do not meet current sales thresholds but could have negative consequences for consumers and businesses in the country.