China has maintained pressure on Google amid the ongoing US-China trade tensions, previously considering an antitrust investigation into Google's Android business after a complaint from Huawei. Despite US sanctions, Huawei developed its own operating system, Harmony OS, as an alternative to Android. China has also investigated other US tech companies like Nvidia, especially after the US tightened semiconductor access. Google's presence in China is minimal, with services like YouTube blocked and limited revenue from Chinese advertisers, contrasting with Meta's significant revenue from China-based advertisers.
Key takeaways:
- China has opened an investigation into Google for potentially violating anti-monopoly laws in response to US tariffs on Chinese imports.
- China is imposing additional restrictions on critical minerals and tariffs on various US goods, including farm equipment and liquified natural gas.
- Google's limited operations in China mean the investigation's impact on the company is minimal, but it allows China to escalate trade tensions if needed.
- China's actions are part of ongoing trade tensions with the US, which have included previous considerations of antitrust investigations into Google's Android business.