China's Commerce Ministry has begun to replace the widely used Microsoft Word file format with a local alternative in its official announcements. The ministry's recent announcement regarding rare earth export controls was released exclusively in the domestic WPS format, making it the first time the ministry's documents could not be directly opened with Microsoft Word or other U.S.-produced software. This move is seen as a significant step in the ongoing trade and technology tensions between Beijing and Washington and reflects a broader trend of foreign software firms, including Microsoft, reducing their presence in mainland China. No market reaction analysis was available in the provided search results.