U.S. electronic design automation (EDA) supplier Synopsys said it had been informed by the U.S. Department of Commerce that the export restrictions related to China, pursuant to a letter received on May 29, 2025, have now been rescinded effective immediately. “Synopsys is working to restore access to the recently restricted products in China,” the company said in the statement. German EDA provider Siemens was recently notified by the Bureau of Industry and Security that the export control restrictions on EDA software and technology to customers in China set forth in the May 23 letter received by Siemens are no longer in place. As a result, Siemens has restored full access to software and technology classified under Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) 3D991 and 3E991, subject to applicable export control laws and regulations, and has resumed sales and support to Chinese customers.
Another world-leading chip design software provider – Cadence Design Systems – said that the U.S. had lifted export restrictions on chip design software for China and that it was in the process of restoring access to software and technology to affected customers.
The U.S. imposed restrictions on EDA tools exported to China in May. EDA tools are essential for designing advanced semiconductors. EDA refers to the use of computer-aided design software to complete processes such as functional design, synthesis, verification, and physical design of chips. As the most upstream part of the industry, EDA software is often hailed as the “mother of chips”. Synopsys, Cadence and Siemens together control more than 70% of China's EDA market.
Xiang Ligang, Director General of the Zhongguancun Modern Information Consumer Application Industry Technology Alliance, said that “previous U.S. restrictions have ironically catalyzed China’s progress in chips. The U.S. government knows that the two nations are highly complementary to each other in the semiconductor sector”. As the world’s largest semiconductor market, China has great appeal to international companies, he added.
The U.S. also resumed blocked exports of ethane and jet engines to China, the Global Times and the China Daily report.
