China Drops Google Antitrust Probe, Shifts Focus to Nvidia Amid Trade Tensions

China has quietly ended its antitrust investigation into Google, in what analysts see as a tactical move to redirect regulatory pressure toward Nvidia as part of ongoing trade friction with the United States.

According to the Financial Times, Beijing’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), which launched the Google probe in February, has now decided to drop the case. The regulator had previously said the tech giant was suspected of violating the country’s anti-monopoly law but did not disclose specific allegations. Google has reportedly not been formally notified of the decision.

The move comes days after China accused Nvidia of breaching anti-monopoly regulations following a preliminary investigation into the chipmaker’s business practices.

The shift highlights Beijing’s strategy of using regulatory tools as leverage in trade negotiations. Over the past six months, relations between Washington and Beijing have been strained, with President Donald Trump imposing sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods—later reduced to 30%—and threatening to ban TikTok. China responded with counter-tariffs and investigations into U.S. tech firms, including Google.

Analysts say the decision to drop the Google case signals flexibility toward Washington, while the fresh scrutiny on Nvidia underscores Beijing’s intent to push back against U.S. pressure on China’s access to advanced technology.