Ministers are leaving Britain "toothless" as Beijing prepares to play a bigger role in approving a £50 billion mining merger than the UK Government. The UK-registered firm, Anglo American, one of Britain's largest listed companies, is pressing ahead with a blockbuster merger with Canadian mining giant, Teck.

But the proposed terms of the sale could see the UK with no formal say in whether or not the deal goes ahead. Instead, the agreement sees sign-off required from regulators in Canada, South Africa and China, leaving Britain sidelined even though Anglo American continues to be listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The merger announcement confirmed that approval would be needed from competition authorities in Australia, Canada, Chile, China, the EU, Japan, Mexico, Peru, South Korea and the United States. The UK does not appear on the list.

Conservative MP, Iain Duncan Smith told the Express that it was "extraordinary that Chinese regulators will sign off on this deal while the UK Government sits on its hands".

He added that it showed "just how toothless Britain has become in defending its economic interests."

The merger has already caused controversy around the world.

Canada's Industry Minister, Mélanie Joly, warned that Anglo American and Teck would need to prove the merger would provide a "net benefit" to Canada, with strict conditions around jobs, and even the location of the firm's HQ.

Canada's Competition Bureau has also confirmed, separately, that it would review the transaction for antitrust concerns.

Analysts and investors in Toronto, Canada, have also expressed concerns that Teck, a massive Canadian resources company, is being sold off at a low point in its share value and without a 'takeover premium'.

But the absence of UK involvement has fueled fears from critics that Britain has limited tools left to protect its economic interests from major international buyouts.

However, it is understood that the UK Government could potentially intervene if they had security concerns around the merger.

Yet, as it stands, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority is not one of the organisations with automatic clearance and approval powers on the deal.

The Department for Business and Trade was approached for comment.