Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jim Banks are calling on the Commerce Department to pause export licenses for NVIDIA ($NVDA) AI chips to China and parts of Southeast Asia following Justice Department charges tied to Super Micro Computer ($SMCI) over an alleged scheme to divert restricted AI servers to China. The lawmakers also questioned prior statements from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang that there was no evidence of chip diversion.
- The DOJ charged three individuals linked to Super Micro, including a co-founder, in connection with alleged exports of AI servers containing restricted Nvidia chips to China.
- The senators requested an immediate review and pause of export licenses covering China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore.
- The request was outlined in a letter to the Commerce Department calling for further investigation.
- The letter raised concerns about whether Nvidia’s compliance and monitoring processes are sufficient to prevent diversion of advanced chips.
- Nvidia’s lobbying disclosures include activity related to export controls, BIS regulations, EAR rules, and semiconductor trade policy.
- NVDA - potential export license restrictions could impact sales of AI chips to China and Southeast Asia.
- SMCI - linked to the DOJ case involving alleged diversion of AI servers containing Nvidia chips.
- DELL - may benefit if customers shift demand away from Super Micro amid scrutiny.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.
