Commerce Department cleared Nvidia chip sales to questionable Chinese firms, NYT reports

The U.S. Commerce Department approved Nvidia chip sales to Chinese firms later flagged as questionable, according to a New York Times report. The approvals could trigger tighter export controls and greater scrutiny of how the U.S. licenses advanced technology. The report did not specify the number of firms, chips or dollar value involved. The story matters because Nvidia chips sit at the center of U.S.-China tech tensions, and any licensing review could ripple through semiconductor supply chains. Watch for whether Commerce tightens licensing rules or revisits prior approvals, and for Nvidia's response.