China Accuses Nvidia of Antitrust Breach, Launches Further Investigation

China announced on Monday that US chipmaker Nvidia has violated its antitrust laws, pledging a deeper investigation just as trade discussions between Beijing and Washington entered their second day.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), China’s top market watchdog, revealed that the probe—first launched in December—had reached a preliminary conclusion.

“Following a preliminary investigation, it has been determined that NVIDIA Corporation has violated the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China,” SAMR said in a statement.

The agency added that it “has therefore decided to conduct a further investigation into the matter in accordance with the law,” without disclosing details of the alleged violations or what the expanded probe would entail.

Nvidia, a California-based leader in artificial intelligence chips, posted earnings last month that sparked concerns about its operations in China—an area increasingly scrutinized by Washington amid mounting trade and geopolitical tensions.

The SAMR announcement came about an hour before officials began the second day of bilateral trade talks in Madrid, aimed at narrowing disputes that have strained relations between the two powers.