Report: Lutnick Delays Nvidia China Chip Curbs

Reports say Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick repeatedly delayed export controls targeting companies suspected of diverting Nvidia’s advanced AI chips to China, particularly Singapore-based Megaspeed. In a White House Situation Room meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pressed Lutnick to explain the delay, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer reportedly backing stronger restrictions. President Donald Trump later authorized action after consulting Elon Musk, who supported the controls, but the restrictions had still not taken effect, according to the reports. Lutnick reportedly warned the controls could trigger a trade war with China; a Commerce Department spokesperson disputed that Bessent confronted him.