Lutnick Took a Softer Line on Nvidia as Calls for Tougher Controls Grew

Critics say Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, and his department have shielded Nvidia as concerns have grown over A.I. chip sales to firms like Megaspeed. Howard Lutnick has frequently clashed with top officials over how to regulate sales of advanced technology to Asia, particularly Nvidia’s chip sales in the region.

Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times There is broad agreement among most senior Trump administration officials that the United States should more aggressively tighten controls on Nvidia’s advanced chips to keep China from using them to catch up in the race to dominate artificial intelligence. Over the past year, Mr.

Lutnick has frequently clashed with top officials over how to regulate sales of advanced technology, particularly Nvidia’s chip sales to Asia. That has drawn accusations from others in the administration and in Congress that the Commerce Department has become too cozy with Nvidia and its co-founder, Jensen Huang, and failed to adequately police the firm’s chip sales to China, in particular.