The Trump administration has reportedly relaxed export license rules for some chip design software sales to China. According to a Bloomberg report, the US Commerce Department has informed Siemens AG – one of the world’s leading chip design software providers that requirements to seek government licenses for business in China are no longer in place. Siemens added that it has now restored full access to its software and technology for its Chinese customers.The move comes as part of a broader trade agreement between Washington and Beijing aimed at improving the flow of critical technologies between the two nations.The US imposed license requirements in May this year as part of the Trump administration’s response to China’s restrictions on exporting key rare-earth minerals. The restrictions were then said to be aimed to slow China’s progress in semiconductor and AI development. EDA software from companies like Cadence and Synopsys is crucial in designing both advanced processors for tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, as well as simpler components used in everyday electronics.The brief export crackdown had heightened tensions in the ongoing US-China tech rivalry, but the latest move signals a potential thaw, at least in some areas of technology trade.However, under a new trade deal signed last week, the US agreed to permit the export of chip-design software, jet engines, and ethane — provided China speeds up approvals for its own critical mineral exports.