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China blocks Meta's $2B Manus acquisition

techApr 27, 20261950

China’s National Development and Reform Commission ordered Meta Platforms Inc. to unwind its $2 billion acquisition of agentic AI startup Manus, citing illegal foreign investment and risks of AI technology transfer. Manus, which had re-registered in Singapore before the sale, had already been integrated into Meta’s operations, making cancellation complex to execute. Beijing framed the order as preventing the hollowing out of Chinese technology, a move that raises U.S.-China tensions and complicates cross-border AI M&A ahead of a planned U.S.-China summit.

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