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China Opens Review of Meta’s Manus Acquisition Over Export-Control Rules

Officials are examining whether Manus’s relocation to Singapore required an export license under Chinese law.

Overview

  • Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said authorities will assess whether the deal complies with Chinese laws and regulations.
  • The review is in its early phase and may not become a formal investigation, though licensing questions could give Beijing leverage over the transaction.
  • Meta completed the purchase last month, with reports valuing the Singapore-based AI startup at about $2 billion to $3 billion.
  • Manus originated in China and moved staff and technology to Singapore in 2025 after U.S. scrutiny of a Benchmark-led funding round.
  • Manus says its general-purpose AI agent reached more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue after launching last year.