U.S. reportedly approved Nvidia chip sales to Chinese firms with empty offices

The U.S. reportedly approved Nvidia chip sales to Chinese firms whose offices were found to be empty, raising questions about the rigor of export-control screening. The arrangement highlights potential gaps in U.S. restrictions on advanced semiconductors, a market central to global trade and national security. Details on the specific firms, chip models, and deal values were not disclosed in the report. The episode matters because export controls are a key lever in U.S.-China tech competition, and enforcement credibility affects supply chains across the semiconductor sector. What to watch next is whether regulators tighten vetting of buyers or revisit approved licenses.