Commerce Secretary accused of shielding Nvidia from tougher chip export rules

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces criticism for shielding Nvidia from tougher export controls, as senior Trump administration officials broadly agree on tightening advanced chip sales to China. Lutnick has clashed with officials over regulating Nvidia’s chip sales to Asia, drawing accusations from Congress that his department is too cozy with the company. Recent revelations that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had a relationship with a suspected Chinese spy, Alice Huang of Megaspeed, have intensified scrutiny. The dispute centers on balancing U.S. leadership in AI against national security risks, with Lutnick uniquely positioned to shape China’s access to American technology. Current and former officials say Nvidia receives special treatment within the Commerce Department.