Congress scrutinises Lutnick’s China chip controls amid Nvidia affair disclosures

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is facing scrutiny over whether his handling of US export controls helped create opportunities for business dealings with China linked to the Nvidia scandal. The issue has reached Congress, where senators are examining his ties to Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang and the Commerce Department’s chip policy.

Reports say Lutnick delayed or opposed action against Megaspeed International, a company under investigation since 2024 for possible chip-control violations, partly out of concern that Beijing would retaliate or trade talks would suffer. Huang, who resigned as Nvidia chief executive, had acknowledged affairs with Nvidia executive Kimberly Powell and Chinese entrepreneur Alice Huang, who was under investigation; President Donald Trump had urged him not to step down.