Nikkei Asia said the US has extended to Jan. 10 its suspension of a rule that would widen trade restrictions on Chinese companies' access to American technology. It said the move comes as Washington and Beijing prolong their trade truce.

The date matches the truce itself. The truce now runs to Jan. 10, and had been due to expire on Nov. 10, the New York Times reported. Xi's visit to Washington ended with a two-month extension but no breakthrough on tariffs or Taiwan.

The suspension spares both sides a fight over widening the list of restricted Chinese companies, which export-control hawks in Washington have pushed for. But the truce covers little else. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said export controls and national security matters are not part of the current round of talks.

That leaves tech policy moving on its own track, and it is tightening. Washington is holding up SK Hynix's China equipment approvals. Nvidia has told data centre partners to sell at least 51% of services to non-Chinese buyers, a rule aimed at the rental route Chinese AI firms use to reach advanced chips.

Trade gestures continue alongside. China's Ministry of Commerce says Beijing will buy more US farm goods only after the agreed tariff cuts take effect, which cover US$30bn of goods on each side. The US Trade Representative's office has proposed keeping its suspension of port fees on Chinese-linked vessels in place through Jan. 9, 2027.

The tech rule stays suspended until Jan. 10.

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