Qualcomm admits to completing Autotalks purchase without notifying regulators, says China

US semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm acknowledged that it completed its acquisition of Israeli chip designer Autotalks in June without informing Chinese authorities, China's market regulator said on Sunday (October 12).

The disclosure came two days after China launched an antitrust investigation into Qualcomm, examining whether the US firm violated China's antitrust law by failing to declare details of its acquisition of the Israeli company, news agency Reuters reported.

Why China started investigating Qualcomm: Timeline of events
China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said it informed Qualcomm in March 2024 that the deal required approval by the regulator. In the same month, the US firm notified SAMR that it would not pursue the acquisition further.

However, Qualcomm completed the deal in June 2025 without informing the authority, the regulator claimed. SAMR stated that Qualcomm “acknowledged above facts,” which formed the basis for Beijing's antitrust probe.

Qualcomm's shares fell more than 5% last week after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose higher tariffs against China and cancel a planned meeting with President Xi Jinping .

The antitrust investigation adds to mounting tensions between the US and China, as both countries engage in an escalating trade dispute that has affected multiple technology companies operating in both markets.

The report suggested that China's investigation of Qualcomm represents another front in the ongoing economic confrontation between Washington and Beijing, particularly in the semiconductor sector, which has become a focal point of technological competition between the two nations.

Meanwhiel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Cristiano Amon , President and CEO of Qualcomm, Modi's office said in a statement.

"Great to see Qualcomm's commitment towards India's semiconductor and AI missions," Modi said in a post on X.