WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS, May 15: The US Justice Department is likely to review Thomson Corporation's 8.7 billion-pound ($17.2 billion) takeover agreement with Reuters, a spokeswoman for the US competition authority said on Tuesday.

Justice Department spokeswman Gina Talamona said the Thomson-Reuters deal would likely be reviewed by her department, which shares authority over merger reviews with the Federal Trade Commission.

Multinationals such as Thomson and Reuters need permission from regulators in Brussels, Washington and elsewhere to complete mergers. The companies themselves have to determine where competition law requires them to file for permission, but corporations with worldwide markets end up in many jurisdictions.

If they win clearance from the European Commission and the US Justice Department there is rarely trouble elsewhere. Both authorities usually clear deals in one month unless they pose serious competition questions.

In Brussels the process sometimes begins with informal talks before notification. The US and EU agencies may work together, sharing documents and staff, if the companies agree to a joint approach.