China probes US chip industry ahead of trade talks

China has launched two investigations into the U.S. semiconductor sector, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Saturday. The first is an anti‑dumping probe targeting certain analog integrated‑circuit chips imported from the United States, specifically commodity interface IC chips and gate‑driver IC chips commonly produced by companies such as Texas Instruments and ON Semiconductor. The ministry said the inquiry will determine whether these chips are being dumped in the Chinese market and harming domestic industries.

The second investigation is an anti‑discrimination probe focused on alleged U.S. measures against China’s chip sector. The ministry asserted that “certain U.S. measures in the integrated‑circuit sector amount to discriminatory bans, restrictions, or similar actions targeting China.” This probe will examine whether U.S. export controls and related actions unfairly target Chinese companies and limit their access to advanced technologies.

The announcements come just before a four‑day round of trade talks between the two largest economies, set to begin in Spain on Sunday. These talks, the fourth round of negotiations in recent months, aim to ease escalating trade tensions and address issues such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and export controls. The United States has repeatedly accused China of unfair trade practices, while China has condemned U.S. export controls as discriminatory and harmful to global trade.

The investigations follow the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to add 32 foreign entities—including 23 Chinese companies—to its trade blacklist, citing alleged involvement in activities that undermine fair trade practices and national security. The move has heightened tensions, with China accusing the United States of politicizing trade and disrupting global supply chains. The broader backdrop is a multi‑year trade war in which both sides have imposed tariffs and other restrictions, significantly impacting global trade and the economies of many industries.