China has implemented a series of countermeasures against Google and other US companies following the latest trade actions by President Donald Trump. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Google, citing suspected violations of Chinese competition laws, as per Reuters. However, officials have not disclosed specific details regarding the allegations.
Beijing’s latest actions come in response to tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). While the administration has cited broader national security concerns, including illegal immigration and drug trafficking, the trade measures are also aimed at China’s technology sector and intellectual property practices.
As part of these policies, the US has implemented a 10% additional tariff on imports from China, alongside a paused 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico. The administration has stated that these measures are intended to hold China accountable for alleged intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers, and other trade practices deemed unfair by US officials. The tariffs have been positioned as a strategy to pressure China into economic negotiations, which the administration claims have led to a historic bilateral agreement.
The latest restrictions add to ongoing US trade policies limiting Chinese access to advanced technologies, including semiconductors, AI and cloud computing.
Google’s presence in China has been restricted due to regulatory challenges and government censorship. In 2010, the company redirected its services from mainland China to Hong Kong following disputes over censorship policies and cybersecurity concerns. As a result, Google’s search engine and several other core services were blocked in China.
Despite these restrictions, Google has maintained a presence in the country through advertising partnerships and offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The company has explored opportunities in AI research and cloud computing, though previous initiatives have faced setbacks. Google’s total revenue from China remains minimal, accounting for less than 1% of its global earnings.
US expands indictment against former Google engineer
In a separate development, US prosecutors have expanded charges against former Google software engineer Linwei Ding, who is accused of stealing AI trade secrets for Chinese companies. The 38-year-old Chinese national, also known as Leon Ding, now faces 14 counts, including seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of trade secret theft.
Prosecutors allege that Ding misappropriated confidential data related to Google’s supercomputing infrastructure and AI software platforms, reported Reuters. The stolen information reportedly included chip designs developed to enhance Google’s competitive position against Amazon and Microsoft while reducing reliance on Nvidia’s technology.
According to court filings, Ding joined Google in 2019 and allegedly began transferring proprietary data in 2022 while being recruited by a Chinese technology firm. By May 2023, he had reportedly uploaded more than 1,000 confidential files and later shared a PowerPoint presentation with employees at a startup he founded, referencing Chinese government policies supporting AI development.
If convicted, Ding faces up to 15 years in prison and a $5m fine per count of economic espionage. Each charge of trade secret theft carries a potential 10-year sentence and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors and the defence have discussed a possible resolution to the case, though it is expected to proceed to trial. Google has not been charged and has stated that it is cooperating with law enforcement authorities.
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