Core Viewpoint - Donald Trump's strengthened chip export controls against China have escalated trade tensions between the two major economies, resulting in a delay of a $35 billion merger in the U.S. semiconductor industry due to Chinese antitrust regulatory scrutiny [1]. Group 1: Merger and Regulatory Delays - The proposed merger between Synopsys, a chip design tool manufacturer, and Ansys, an engineering software developer, has been postponed by China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) [1]. - The merger has already received approval from U.S. and European authorities and was in the final stages of the approval process with SAMR, expected to conclude by the end of the month [1]. - The delay in approval is attributed to the complexity of the transaction rather than a direct link to the ongoing trade war [1]. Group 2: U.S.-China Trade Relations - The postponement of the merger coincides with recent actions by Washington to prohibit U.S. companies, including Synopsys, from selling chip design software to China [1]. - There are indications that the U.S. may relax restrictions on chip design tool sales, as Synopsys has reportedly resumed selling intellectual property and hardware, although EDA-related software tools remain restricted [2]. Group 3: Company Developments - Synopsys' CEO, Sassine Ghazi, stated that the company is actively negotiating with SAMR to obtain approval and anticipates completing the transaction in the first half of the year [2]. - Ansys, originally focused on structural analysis tools, has expanded its engineering simulation software applications across various industries, including automotive, construction, healthcare, and defense [3].