China is considering requests from Japan and the European Union to join Sino-US talks over tax breaks given to Chinese chipmakers, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing an unidentified spokesman at the Ministry of Commerce.

　　The EU asked to be included in the talks on March 26, followed by Japan on March 31, Xinhua reported. Both lined up as third parties alongside a US complaint to the World Trade Organization against tax rebates that the Bush administration argues give domestic chipmakers an unfair advantage over imports.