The Bing search engine became inaccessible in China on Wednesday, the New York Times confirmed, citing a statement from Microsoft. It’s unclear what this means. Chinese authorities sometimes temporarily block foreign online services, and a permanent ban would be highly unusual given Bing legally operates in China and censors its content. The block could be part of efforts to ratchet up pressure ahead of new U.S.-China trade talks next week. Or it could be part of China’s intensifying crackdown on online content and services. Either way, it is yet another sign that the climate for foreign businesses in China is as uncertain as ever.