Taipei, Sep 14 (AP): China launched two probes targeting the US semiconductor sector Saturday ahead of talks between the two nations in Spain this week on trade, national security and the ownership of social media platform TikTok.
China's Ministry of Commerce announced an anti-dumping investigation into certain analog IC chips imported from the US. The investigation will target some commodity interface IC chips and gate driver IC chips, which are commonly made by US companies such as Texas Instruments and ON Semiconductor.
The ministry separately announced an anti-discrimination probe into US measures against China's chip sector.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Madrid between Sunday and Wednesday, He's office said.
US measures such as export curbs and tariffs “constitute the containment and suppression of China's development of high-tech industries” such as advanced computer chips and artificial intelligence, a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said.
The announcements of the probes follow the US on Friday adding 23 Chinese companies to an “entity list” of businesses that will face restrictions for allegedly acting against US national security and foreign policy interests. The list includes two Chinese companies accused of acquiring chipmaking equipment for major Chinese chipmaker SMIC.
The meetings between Bessent and He in Madrid will be the latest in a series of negotiations aimed at reducing trade tensions and postponing the enactment of higher tariffs on each other's goods.
US and Chinese counterparts previously held discussions in Geneva in May, London in June and Stockholm in July. The two governments have agreed to several 90-day pauses on a series of increasing reciprocal tariffs, staving off an all-out trade war.
Bessent described the talks during the last round in Stockholm as "very fulsome."
“We just need to de-risk with certain, strategic industries, whether it's the rare earths, semiconductors, medicines, and we talked about what we could do together to get into balance within the relationship,” Bessent said at the time.
US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden placed curbs on China's access to advanced semiconductors including restrictions on the sale of chipmaking equipment to the country. While Washington cites national security concerns, China argues the curbs are part of a US strategy to contain its growth.
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Man, wife arrested for murdering her lover in Mumbra
Thane (PTI): A man and his wife were arrested on Thursday in Mumbra in Thane district for allegedly murdering her lover, a police official said.
The probe into the case began after Raju Yadav, a resident of the Khardi Road area, was found dead with his throat slit on February 17, the Mumbra police station official said.
"Yadav, who was himself married, had been in a relationship with Farheen Mohammad Abid Malik (27) for the past eight months. Farheen's husband Mohammad Abid Abdul Wajid Malik (29) confronted her, after which the duo decided to kill Yadav," he said.
"On the midnight of February 17, Farheen called Yadav to an under-construction flat in the building, where she gave him a cold drink mixed with a chemical. After Raju became unconscious, Mohammad Malik came there and slit his throat. The couple has been remanded in police custody," the official said.
Further probe into the case, including where the chemical was procured, is underway, he said.
