China probes FedEx after Huawei parcels misrouted

China on Friday launched an investigation into FedEx for "failing to deliver express packages" to the correct addresses in the country, state media said, after the US delivery service misrouted some Huawei parcels.

FedEx apologised earlier this month for the delivery mishap after Chinese telecoms giant Huawei said it was reviewing its ties with the package service over the incident.

The US delivery firm said at the time that "no external parties requested that FedEx transfer these packages".

"China's relevant government department has started an investigation into FedEx, delivering a notice of inquiry to FedEx China," Chinese official news agency Xinhua reported on Friday, without specifying which department.

Beijing's investigation into FedEx comes as Huawei faces moves from the US to blacklist the Chinese tech firm, cutting it off from American-made components it needs for products -- though it was issued a 90-day reprieve in May.

China hit back last month by announcing it would create its own blacklist of "unreliable" companies and individuals, which could target US and international firms that have cut off supplies to Huawei.

Last week, China's commerce ministry said the list would not target any specific field or company, but that it was "designed in reaction to practises distorting the market for non-commercial purposes."