North China Pharmaceutical Group Photo:VCG

After a legal battle lasting nearly 17 years, North China Pharmaceutical Group, which makes vitamin C, won a retrial in a vitamin C antitrust lawsuit initiated by the US against China.

Zhang Tingde, the general counsel of North China Pharmaceutical, said that this case is the first US anti-monopoly case against China and has exemplary significance, adding that it is also a milestone for Chinese companies in going global, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency on Friday.

Zhang said the victory in the case not only restores huge losses for the company, but also provides Chinese companies with useful experience in dealing with international litigation. It can boost confidence for domestic companies in expanding overseas and protecting their rights while doing so, Zhang noted.

A US appeals court on Tuesday threw out a price-fixing lawsuit against two Chinese companies - Hebei Welcome Pharmaceutical Co and parent company North China Pharmaceutical Group Corp - according to a Reuters report.

The case started in January 2005. Some US merchants accused four major vitamin C manufacturers in China of price collusion and the formation of a monopoly, and requested compensation of 1.57 billion yuan.

Due to various factors, the three other defendants in the case agreed to settle out of court.

Global Times