US lawmakers and former officials on Wednesday questioned President Donald Trump's decision to allow Nvidia to sell its second most powerful AI chips in China, arguing the move erodes America's AI edge and threatens to electrify Beijing's military. National security fears around Beijing's access to American AI chips had prompted the Biden administration to bar sales of the prized semiconductors to China. The regulations released on Tuesday specify that before being exported to China, chips must be reviewed by a third-party testing lab to confirm their technical AI capabilities. China also cannot receive more than 50 per cent of the total amount of chips sold to American customers. The White House and the US Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, did not respond to requests for comment.

Source: The Telegraph January 15, 2026 15:31 UTC