Yunqifang, a subsidiary of Chinese chip equipment maker SiCarrier, unveiled two homegrown electronic design automation (EDA) software products with independent intellectual property rights, Chinese state-backed media The Paper reported on Wednesday.
The launch highlights China’s effort to reduce dependency on U.S. chip design tools as Washington tightens technology export controls. EDA software is essential for crafting semiconductor blueprints, making it one of the most critical—and restricted—areas in the global chipmaking supply chain.
Earlier this year, the U.S. imposed temporary restrictions on exporting advanced chip design software to China after Beijing suspended rare earth exports, escalating tensions in the technology trade war. Experts have long warned that restricted access to EDA tools could significantly slow China’s chip innovation, where it lags behind American developers.
The unveiling comes as President Donald Trump threatens new 100% tariffs and additional export bans on Chinese technology by November 1, underscoring growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Founded in 2021 and owned by the Shenzhen municipal government, SiCarrier has rapidly become a key player in China’s semiconductor ambitions. Its latest software launch underscores Beijing’s commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in critical technologies, a central goal of its long-term industrial policy.
