Thyssenkrupp files Brussels veto on joint venture with Tata

Germany's Thyssenkrupp has filed a complaint with the European Court of Justice to challenge an antitrust ruling that blocks a planned joint venture with Tata Steel. The complaint to the European Union's General Court of Justice, seen as a symbolic move, came after the Commission vetoed plans to create Europe's second-largest steel producer in June, fearing it would unduly harm competition.

The Commission was most concerned about the merger of the two companies in the field of automotive and packaging steel, with which Brussels disagrees.

Thyssenkrupp said in a statement: "In its competitive assessment of the packaging steel and galvanized steel product groups for the automotive industry, the Commission has for the first time formulated a restrictive market definition that unnecessarily expands the scope of existing competition law."

Already in early May, it was clear that Brussels would block the deal, leading to a strategic reversal of the group, which includes the