China announced on Monday it has launched an antitrust investigation into Nvidia, targeting alleged violations of the country’s anti-monopoly law. This move is seen as a countermeasure to recent U.S. restrictions on China’s semiconductor industry, escalating tensions in the ongoing tech rivalry between the two nations.
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) stated that Nvidia, known for its AI and gaming chips, is under scrutiny for potentially breaching conditions set during its 2020 acquisition of Israeli chipmaker Mellanox Technologies. While details remain scarce, the regulator mentioned suspicions about Nvidia violating commitments to supply products on “fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory” terms, among other stipulations.
Retaliatory Backdrop
This probe follows heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing. Last week, the U.S. introduced new restrictions on 140 Chinese companies, further curbing China’s access to advanced semiconductor technology. In response, Beijing banned exports of critical minerals like gallium, germanium, and antimony to the U.S.
In addition, four major Chinese industry associations called on domestic firms to reduce reliance on U.S. chips, labeling them “unsafe” and encouraging purchases from local suppliers. Nvidia, which once commanded over 90% of China’s AI chip market, has faced diminishing revenue from China, dropping from 26% of its global total two years ago to 17% by January 2023.
Nvidia’s shares fell by 2.5% on Monday following the announcement. The company stated it would cooperate with regulators and reaffirmed its commitment to honoring agreements in all regions. However, analysts like Bob O’Donnell from TECHnalysis Research believe the investigation’s immediate impact on Nvidia will be limited, as U.S. restrictions already prevent the sale of its most advanced chips to China.
Nvidia’s Strategic Adjustments
U.S. sanctions in 2022 prohibited Nvidia from selling its A100 and H100 AI chips to China, prompting the company to create modified versions for the Chinese market. Further tightened U.S. export controls in 2023 led Nvidia to develop new variants tailored to Chinese restrictions. Despite these challenges, Nvidia faces mounting competition from domestic players like Huawei.
China’s Antitrust Track Record
China’s antitrust probes into foreign tech companies are not new. The most prominent case occurred in 2013, when China fined Qualcomm $975 million for market abuse in wireless communication standards. Similar to that case, Nvidia is accused of practices such as discriminatory terms, product bundling, and unfair supply conditions—issues tied to the Mellanox acquisition conditions.
The investigation could signal Beijing’s intent to leverage regulatory tools to counter U.S. sanctions while fostering its domestic chip industry.