German technology company Aixtron SE, which builds equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing, announced Oct. 24 that the German government has withdrawn its approval for China's Grand Chip Investment GmbH to buy the company and is reopening its review of the $728 million deal. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel is preparing a proposal to the European Union to allow member states to block deals with non-EU investors in which at least 25 percent of the voting shares of a company will be transferred and in which the foreign government is behind the acquisition or funding it. This is the second time that Berlin has publicly opposed a high-profile merger or acquisition by a Chinese company of a German industrial technology company. Earlier this year, Germany came out against a proposal for Chinese appliance manufacturer Midea to take over Kuka Robotics Corp., but the deal was eventually approved.