U.S. Lawmakers Press for Disclosure on Nvidia AI Chip Sales to China
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (GeokHub) Two senior Democratic lawmakers have urged the U.S. Commerce Department to publicly disclose details of any license approvals under review that would allow the sale of Nvidia’s advanced H200 artificial intelligence chips to Chinese companies.
In a letter sent on Monday, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Gregory Meeks called for full transparency around the ongoing licensing process, asking the department to reveal all applications submitted by Chinese firms and to announce any approvals within 48 hours of their issuance.
The lawmakers also requested a formal briefing before any licenses are granted, including an assessment of the potential military applications of the chips and how U.S. allies and partners may respond to such exports.
National Security Concerns Intensify
The request follows recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who said his administration would permit sales of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China while imposing a 25% government fee. Trump argued that allowing the exports could help U.S. companies stay ahead of Chinese competitors by reducing incentives for China to accelerate domestic chip development.
Critics across Washington, however, have warned that advanced AI chips could strengthen China’s military capabilities and undermine U.S. technological leadership.
Warren and Meeks emphasized that Congress must be kept fully informed, particularly given the chips’ advanced computing power and their potential use in defense, surveillance, and artificial intelligence systems.
The Commerce Department has not yet publicly detailed the status of any license approvals related to the H200 chips.
