China Targets U.S. Tech Giants in Retaliation Against Trade Tariffs

China is ramping up pressure on major U.S. tech firms in response to trade tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, according to the Wall Street Journal. Beijing is compiling a list of companies for potential antitrust probes, targeting firms with close ties to Trump’s administration.

Last week, China launched an antitrust investigation into Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL), following the U.S. imposing a 10% tariff on Chinese imports. While Google services have been blocked in China for over a decade, reports suggest Beijing may extend its scrutiny to Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), which relies heavily on China for both sales and manufacturing. Apple’s market share in China has been declining, partly due to restrictions on government employees using its products and Beijing’s push to promote domestic brands with subsidies.

China is also investigating Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) after Washington tightened restrictions on its chip exports to the country. Other U.S. firms at risk include Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) and Synopsys (NASDAQ:SNPS), both crucial to the global semiconductor supply chain.

Trump has threatened tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese goods, a move analysts warn could spark further retaliation from Beijing. The trade war between the U.S. and China continues to escalate, with no immediate resolution in sight. Despite the tariffs, Trump has expressed no urgency to reopen talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

As tensions grow, China’s actions could have significant implications for American tech firms operating in or relying on Chinese markets. Investors and industry leaders are closely monitoring Beijing’s next moves amid rising economic uncertainty.