Controversy and Scepticism
The acquisition drew mixed reactions. Some critics remained troubled over a Chinese company owning a major American appliance brand. They fear this could have potentially negative impacts on jobs, technology transfer, and national security. However, antitrust regulators in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Colombia approved the deal after a thorough review. They concluded the deal raised no significant competition issues. Haier committed to retaining the GE Appliances brand, keeping its base of operations in Louisville. They have also stated they will be maintaining the existing management team, which eased some concerns.