The U.S. suspects that there are channels through which China obtains chips from TSMC and Samsung at the cutting‑edge level of technology.

Brief overview of the situation with U.S. export restrictions on AI accelerators

1. Control over shipments to China

- With Biden’s arrival, U.S. authorities gradually imposed restrictions prohibiting Chinese companies from obtaining advanced Nvidia accelerators and similar devices from the United States.

- In 2023 these restrictions were finalized, but Trump administration officials are still trying to prove their relevance and compliance.

2. The “cross-border” question

- Some officials suspect that Chinese firms may purchase Blackwell (the new generation of Nvidia) accelerators in neighboring countries rather than directly in China, thereby circumventing sanctions.

- The Department of Commerce issued an unscheduled notice clarifying that the restrictions remain in force and must be observed.

3. Investigation of shipments since May 5 last year

- Checks are underway to determine whether prohibited American-origin accelerators were shipped to Chinese companies from May last year to the present.

- Any such transactions are considered violations of export control; officials stated that no relaxations were introduced in May 2023.

4. The “loophole” through TSMC and Samsung

- Critics claim that Chinese developers can order chip production from Taiwan’s TSMC or South Korea’s Samsung, where U.S. technology is used, thereby bypassing control.

- The Department of Commerce confirmed the absence of such a loophole and promises a more detailed explanation later.

5. Public hearings with an Nvidia representative

- CEO Jensen Huang has been invited to parliamentary hearings on June 11.

- He is known for his openness regarding accelerator shipments to China; Trump previously formally authorized deliveries of the H200 model, but the Chinese side refused to accept them.

Thus, U.S. authorities continue to tighten control over the export of high‑technology AI accelerators and are checking compliance with restrictions both domestically and abroad.