The first published ruling by China’s new antitrust regime has sparked fears that authorities could use the laws to shield domestic industry from foreign competition.

In November China’s Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) waved through InBev’s $52bn acquisition of Anheuser-Busch on the grounds that it would not adversely affect competition in the domestic beer market. It is the first publication of a merger decision since beefed-up anti-monopoly laws took effect in August.