China’s Gong: China willing to cut nontariff barriers through talks

China’s Gong: China willing to cut nontariff barriers through talks

China has recently announced a series of regulatory shifts and trade negotiations that signal a potential reduction in nontariff barriers. These moves come amidst heightened tensions between the United States and China, particularly regarding trade and technology.

The Chinese government has reportedly ended its antitrust probe into Google’s Android operating system, marking a significant change in regulatory policy. The probe, which had been ongoing since February, was focused on examining whether the Android ecosystem stifled opportunities for local smartphone manufacturers such as Oppo and Xiaomi. The probe's closure is seen as a symbolic gesture of goodwill, as Google's consumer base in China is negligible .

While the Google probe has been closed, NVIDIA is now facing increased regulatory pressure. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has accused NVIDIA of violating antitrust law in its $7 billion acquisition of Mellanox Technologies, which was conditionally approved in 2020. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has also ordered major companies to cease testing and purchasing NVIDIA's RTX Pro 6000D chip .

These regulatory moves coincide with high-level US-China trade negotiations. Delegations met in Madrid for three days of talks on tariffs, export controls, and a framework for TikTok's divestment. President Donald Trump is set to address a TikTok deal with President Xi Jinping on Friday .

China has also announced that it will no longer seek the special treatment given to developing countries in World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. This move is seen as an attempt to boost the global trading system amidst tariff wars and protectionist measures. The change affects only ongoing and future negotiations and does not impact existing agreements .

These regulatory shifts and trade talks suggest that China is willing to cut nontariff barriers and engage in strategic negotiations with the United States. The moves could potentially open up new opportunities for foreign businesses in China and improve global trade relations.