[News] China Compiles Antitrust Watchlist Targeting U.S. Tech Firms, Apple and Broadcom Reportedly Included

According to a report from Liberty Times, citing The Wall Street Journal, Chinese officials are compiling a list of U.S. tech companies that may become targets of antitrust investigations, aiming to exert influence over tech executives close to Trump.

The report indicates that this move is intended to amass as many bargaining tools as possible ahead of expected negotiations with Trump on U.S.-China issues, particularly regarding the tariffs he has imposed on Chinese products.

Prior to this, Beijing had already initiated antitrust investigations into NVIDIA and Google. Moving forward, it may set its sights on Apple, Broadcom, and semiconductor design software provider Synopsys, as highlighted by the report, citing sources.

Notably, the report points out that Synopsys has a USD 35 billion acquisition deal currently pending approval from the Chinese government. A Synopsys spokesperson stated that the company remains confident in a smooth approval process and expects to complete the transaction in the first half of 2025, as cited in the report.

Beijing has been tightening its control over U.S. tech companies. According to South China Morning Post, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced that it is investigating Google for potential antitrust violations, following Trump’s additional 10% tariff on all Chinese goods, which took effect on February 4. Google is not the only U.S. tech heavyweight targeted by China. In December 2024, China initiated an antitrust probe into NVIDIA.

Additionally, as noted by a report from Bloomberg on the 6th, citing sources, SAMR is also preparing to launch an investigation into Apple’s App Store policies and commission fees.

The probe will examine Apple’s practice of charging up to a 30% commission on in-app purchases in China, as well as its restrictions on external payment services and third-party app stores, according to the report.

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