Google shuts down Translate service in China

Google pulled its search engine from China in 2010 because of heavy government internet censorship. Since then, Google has had a difficult relationship with the Chinese market. The end of Google Translate in China marks a further retreat by the U.S. technology giant from the world’s second-largest economy.

The service was shut down due to low usage.

It is the end of one of its last remaining products.

Users in mainland China are now directed to the Hong Kong version of the service. This can't be accessed from mainland China.

The company said in a statement that it was ending the translation service in mainland China because of low usage.

The relationship with the Chinese market has been rocky at times. In 2010 the U.S. technology giant pulled its search engine from China. The Chinese government blocks a number of its services.

Local competitors have come to dominate the Chinese internet landscape in areas from search to translation.

There isn't much of a presence in China by the search engine giant. China makes some of its hardware. The New York Times reported last month that there was a shift in the production of the Pixel phones.

Even though it is blocked in China, the company is trying to get Chinese developers to make applications for its operating system that will be available on the Play Store.

The project to re-enter China with its search engine was canceled after backlash from employees and politicians.

American businesses have been caught in the middle of tensions between the US and China. China may have access to sensitive technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence.

Washington will restrict the company's sales of specific components to China