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China Postpones Approval of $35 Billion Synopsys-Ansys Merger Amid Rising Trade Tensions

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China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has delayed its approval of the $35 billion merger between U.S. software companies Synopsys and Ansys, according to a Financial Times report on Friday. The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump tightened export controls targeting China’s access to advanced semiconductor design software and other sensitive technologies.

The delay underscores the escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies, even as they reached a tentative trade truce during talks in London earlier this week. The current dispute follows China’s previous curbs on mineral exports, prompting the Trump administration to respond with additional restrictions. These include stricter controls on exports of semiconductor design software — a key area of Synopsys’s business — as well as jet engines and various advanced goods destined for China.

The Synopsys-Ansys merger had reached the final stage of the Chinese regulatory process and was widely expected to receive approval by the end of June. However, U.S. actions in late May banning chip design software sales to China added new complications to the review, according to sources cited by the Financial Times.

Neither Synopsys nor Ansys have publicly commented on the reported delay. Reuters, which also attempted to verify the report, said Synopsys declined to comment, while Ansys and Chinese regulators have not responded to inquiries.

The Trump administration’s latest export controls form part of a broader strategy aimed at limiting China’s access to technologies that could enhance its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and, potentially, its military strength. Washington has also revoked export licenses previously granted to certain suppliers, significantly tightening restrictions on U.S. technology shipments to China.

In a separate development, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last month required Synopsys and Ansys to divest certain assets to address domestic antitrust concerns related to the merger. Synopsys CEO has previously confirmed that the company has obtained regulatory clearances for the deal in all jurisdictions except China.

The $35 billion merger, if completed, would combine two of the most important players in electronic design automation (EDA) and engineering simulation software — sectors crucial for the development of next-generation semiconductors and complex industrial systems.

Trump to Join AI and Energy Summit in Pittsburgh with Tech and Energy Leaders

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U.S. President Donald Trump will attend an artificial intelligence and energy summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 15, according to an announcement from the office of Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Dave McCormick. The inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit will take place at Carnegie Mellon University.

The event is expected to gather top executives from both the tech and energy industries. Axios reported that the guest list includes high-profile tech leaders such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. Leading figures from the energy sector such as Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods, Shell CEO Wael Sawan, and Chevron CEO Mike Wirth are also expected to attend.

White House AI czar David Sacks is scheduled to participate as well. Earlier this week, Sacks voiced concerns that excessive regulation of artificial intelligence in the U.S. could hinder industry growth and give China a competitive advantage in the global AI market. His comments suggest that the Trump administration may adopt a more expansionist policy for U.S. AI companies, focusing on boosting international markets for American AI chips and models.

This approach contrasts with that of Democratic former President Joe Biden, who emphasized strict controls to prevent U.S. AI chips from being used to strengthen China’s military capabilities.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of 40 state attorneys general, including Republicans from Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, Utah, and Virginia, have pushed back against federal efforts to limit state-level AI regulations. They argue that states should retain the authority to develop and enforce consumer protection rules for AI technologies.

The Pittsburgh summit signals the increasing intersection of AI policy, energy strategy, and international trade considerations in U.S. political and economic debates as AI continues to reshape multiple sectors.

Nvidia to Exclude China from Financial Forecasts Amid U.S. Export Restrictions

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Nvidia will stop factoring in revenue and profit from the Chinese market in its financial forecasts, CEO Jensen Huang told CNN on Thursday, citing ongoing U.S. trade restrictions on chip sales to the region. The decision comes as the U.S. maintains stringent export controls that limit Nvidia’s ability to sell its advanced chips to Chinese customers.

When asked if the ongoing trade discussions between the U.S. and China could lead to a lifting of export controls, Huang said he was not counting on any changes:

“If it happens, then it will be a great bonus. I’ve told all of our investors and shareholders that, going forward, our forecasts will not include the China market.”

Huang reiterated his criticism of U.S. chip export curbs, arguing that they are not achieving their intended policy objectives. “The goals of the export controls are not being achieved,” he said. “The goals have to be well-articulated and tested over time.”

According to D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria, Nvidia may face downside risks for 2026 if it remains unable to resume sales to China. Nvidia’s China business remains significant: in the first quarter, China accounted for 12.5% of the company’s total revenue, generating $4.6 billion largely from customers stockpiling the H20 chip before the restrictions took full effect.

The company estimates the export curbs cost it $2.5 billion in lost sales in Q1, with an $8 billion revenue hit projected for Q2. Nvidia is still exploring limited options for the Chinese market but acknowledged:

“Until we settle on a new product design and receive approval from the U.S. government, we are effectively foreclosed from China’s $50 billion data center market.”

Michael Ashley Schulman, CIO at Running Point Capital, said Nvidia’s move to exclude China from its forecasts simplifies its financial outlook:

“By zero-basing China, Nvidia removes a volatile variable that neither Wall Street nor the Commerce Department can reliably handicap.”