I genuinely dislike headlines like this, from Reuters this morning: “As trade war truce with China holds, US lifts curbs for chip design software and ethane,” because it very much sounds like the restrictions could be reversed at any time. But for now, the U.S. Commerce Department has lifted the restrictions it imposed on chip EDA exports to China, in “de-escalating U.S.-Sino trade tensions including concessions from Beijing over rare earths.” Rare earths aren’t rare, but they are concentrated; they’re the metals used in cellphones, batteries and other applications that China had threatened to ban or restrict in trade with the U.S.

As a result of the lifting of the restrictions announced just before Memorial Day, Siemens Digital Industries Software CEO Tony Hemmelgarn said, “Siemens has restored full access to software and technology classified under Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) 3D991 and 3E991, subject to applicable export control laws and regulations, and we have resumed sales and support to Chinese customers.”

Synopsys said, “Synopsys is working to restore access to the recently restricted products in China. Synopsys is continuing to assess the impact of export restrictions related to China on its business, operating results and financials.” Recall that Synopsys had promised investors information about what these lost sales would do to its finances — and they did lose over a month of sales due to the restriction, so it is still possibly material.

I have not seen a statement from Cadence, but I imagine it’ll be similar.

The Reuters article did point out that, aside from the EDA and ethane export restrictions, “It was not immediately clear if other countermeasures imposed by the U.S. have been lifted. These include the suspension of licenses for GE Aerospace to ship jet engines for the C919 aircraft of Chinese airplane maker COMAC (CMAFC.UL) and for nuclear equipment suppliers to sell to Chinese power plants.”

For now, chip EDA sales to China are a “go.”