China has ended its antitrust investigation into Google, signaling a tactical shift in its regulatory approach and sending a message of flexibility to Washington, according to the Financial Times.
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), which opened the probe in February, had previously accused Google of violating China’s anti-monopoly laws but did not provide further details on the alleged breach.
The FT report cited two people familiar with the matter, noting that Google has not yet been formally notified of the decision.
At the same time, China has accused Nvidia of violating its anti-monopoly law following a preliminary investigation into the California-based firm’s business practices. Analysts say this move appears aimed at using regulatory leverage amid ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations.
“The shift from Google to Nvidia reflects Beijing’s tactical use of regulatory measures as leverage in economic diplomacy,” the report said.
The developments come amid heightened tensions over trade, tariffs, and technology. Over the past six months, the U.S. imposed massive tariffs on Chinese goods before lowering them to 30% and threatened restrictions on TikTok. China responded with 10% tariffs and antitrust probes against major U.S. firms like Google, signaling increased regulatory scrutiny.
