US Senators Challenge Trump’s Approval of Nvidia Chip Sales to China
Democratic senators have sharply criticized former President Donald Trump's decision to allow Nvidia to sell its H200 AI chips to China, arguing it undermines national security. The move comes despite previous restrictions on advanced technology exports to China, implemented to limit its military capabilities.
The senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer, claim the approval contradicts longstanding efforts to prevent American technology from bolstering China's defense programs. Nvidia has agreed to allocate 25% of revenue from these sales to the U.S. government—a significant increase from the 15% proposed in a failed August deal for its H20 chip.
The controversy erupted as federal prosecutors announced charges against smugglers funneling thousands of H200 chips into China. Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang has since sought approval for exporting a weaker Blackwell model, reflecting ongoing tensions in U.S.-China tech trade relations.