BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - U.S.-based International

Paper's ( IP ) 5.8-billion-pound ($7.29 billion) bid for

British packaging firm DS Smith ( DITHF ) will be decided by EU

antitrust regulators by Jan. 10, a European Commission filing

showed on Tuesday.

The deal, announced in April, would help International Paper ( IP )

expand its European presence at a time of consolidation in the

sector. It sought EU approval on Monday.

The Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer,

can either clear the deal with or without remedies after its

preliminary review. It can open a four-month long investigation

after the initial phase if it has serious concerns.

The EU executive also examined the deal under its Foreign

Subsidies Regulation which allows the Commission to crack down

on unfair foreign state support for companies. The deadline for

the review was Nov. 21.

($1 = 0.7953 pounds)