China says Nvidia violated antitrust law

Core Viewpoint - China has initiated an antitrust investigation against Nvidia, claiming violations related to its acquisition of Mellanox Technologies, which adds pressure on U.S.-China trade negotiations [1][8][9] Group 1: Nvidia's Antitrust Issues - The Chinese antitrust regulator is investigating Nvidia's $7 billion acquisition of Mellanox Technologies, which was approved under conditions that included ensuring chip supply to China [2][8] - Nvidia is facing scrutiny for halting the supply of its advanced chips to China due to U.S. export controls, which contradicts its earlier commitments to provide uninterrupted chip supply to Chinese customers [9][13] Group 2: U.S.-China Trade Relations - The investigation coincided with U.S. Treasury Secretary's announcement of a framework deal on TikTok, indicating ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries [5] - The U.S. government has restricted Nvidia and other American chip vendors from selling high-end AI chips to China since 2022, complicating Nvidia's position in the market [2][12] Group 3: China's Chip Industry Developments - Despite American restrictions, China is making progress in developing its own chips, although it has not yet achieved the capability to produce chips as powerful as Nvidia's [12][15] - Chinese companies like Huawei, Alibaba, and Baidu are increasingly utilizing domestically developed chips in their AI infrastructure, reflecting a push towards self-sufficiency in technology [14][15]