US Congress eyes tighter curbs on chips to China

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday there was growing consensus in Congress on limiting chip exports to China after a spy scandal forced out Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳), who has pushed to preserve access to the Chinese market and has close ties with US President Donald Trump.

Lawmakers from both parties have since called for tougher restrictions on China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips, threatening access to chips that underpin China’s surging AI development.

“The export controls on chips to China has been a big issue around here,” Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters at the US Capitol, adding he favored limiting China’s access to the advanced technology. “I think there’s a developing consensus in Congress that is an important position to take.”

US House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during a bipartisan all-Member Veterans Day tribute on the House Steps at the US Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday.

Photo: Reuters

The Chinese businesswoman at the center of the scandal, Alice Huang (黃樂), was an executive at Megaspeed, an Nvidia partner the US government suspects of helping China obtain advanced AI chips restricted under US export controls. Beijing has denied she is a spy.

Congressional Republicans are keen to attach new restrictions on exports of advanced AI chips to China to the annual defense authorization bill, a must-pass measure that authorizes military spending and typically attracts bipartisan support, according to a Senate aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Lawmakers are pressing their colleagues to pass at least four bills on chip exports, according to statements since Monday. The AI Overwatch Act would give Congress more power over advanced AI chip exports. The Chip Security Act would require companies to track the location of advanced AI processors to prevent smuggling.

The MATCH Act would pressure US allies to restrict sales and maintenance of advanced chipmaking equipment destined for China. The Remote Access Security Act would give the Commerce Department the tools to stop Chinese firms from renting overseas data centers to access Nvidia chips.

Jensen Huang’s resignation is unlikely to end congressional scrutiny of Nvidia and could leave the former chief executive more exposed to investigation, said Sunny Cheung, an analyst at the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation.

“Congress can still subpoena him and Nvidia should conduct an independent investigation to determine whether the problems extend beyond Huang,” Cheung said.

Cheung said Jensen Huang’s departure could weaken Nvidia’s influence in Washington and create additional momentum for legislation that tightens restrictions on advanced chip exports. He said Nvidia’s new leadership could also reconsider the company’s China strategy as it seeks to rebuild trust with US policymakers.