China Ends Antitrust Probe into Google’s Android Amid US–China Trade Talks

China has reportedly closed its antitrust investigation into Google’s Android operating system, a move that comes as Beijing and Washington engage in high‑level trade discussions covering issues such as TikTok, tariffs and broader tech cooperation.

Key points:

• Beijing’s probe focused on Android’s ubiquity and whether it harmed Chinese phone makers that use the OS.
• Google’s core consumer services (Search, Gmail, YouTube, Maps) remain blocked in China, but the company still generates revenue there via cloud services and ad sales targeted at overseas audiences.
• The decision to ease up on Google comes amid continued regulatory pressure on other U.S. tech firms — notably NVIDIA. Recent measures include restrictions on H20 GPU sales, discouragement or bans on purchases of region‑specific chips such as the RTX Pro 6000D, and regulatory scrutiny tied to NVIDIA’s acquisition of Mellanox.
• Analysts view these moves as part of a broader tactical play by Beijing: offering regulatory concessions in some areas while using scrutiny of other firms as leverage in trade negotiations.

Context: U.S. and Chinese officials recently held trade talks in Madrid ahead of high‑level meetings between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping. Discussions reportedly touched on a potential framework for a TikTok deal and other trade matters.

Source: Engadget (reporting on Financial Times) — Read more

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