Infineon accuses Koreans of foul play

Chip wars break out...

German chip maker Infineon has filed a complaint with the European Union accusing rival Korean chip companies Samsung and Hynix of receiving government subsidies and importing cheap chips to Europe. Infineon stated in the trade complaint that the two South Korean businesses took money from their government and used it to cut the price of chips in order to undercut the German business in the European market. A spokesman for Infineon said: "Our complaint is most notably with Hynix and not with Samsung. We know that significant subsidies have gone to Hynix - we are in an unfair competition." Infineon is asking the EU to place penalty tariffs on Hynix and Samsung imports. Infineon will know whether the EU intends to take its case forward within 45 days, as the complaint is being fast tracked through a process which normally takes seven months. Samsung and Hynix have refuted the accusation.