US Lifts China Chip Design Software Curbs: Evening Briefing Asia

The Trump administration has lifted export license requirements for chip design software sales in China, implementing a trade deal to ease some restrictions on essential technologies. Three leading semiconductor software providers — Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems and Germany’s Siemens — were told by the Commerce Department that they no longer need to seek licenses for business in China. Under the agreement finalized last week, Washington allowed China-bound shipments of EDA software, a key tool for the semiconductor industry, as well as ethane and jet engines, provided Beijing honors its pledge to speed export approvals for critical minerals.

While Beijing and Washington may be upholding their truce for now, China is also wary about what’s happening elsewhere: ...