China to companies: Stop ordering Nvidia’s China-specific chips, they are …

China is tightening controls on chip imports at major ports, a report claims. This move will reportedly discourage the use of US products, specifically Nvidia’s AI processors, in the country. In recent weeks, Chinese customs officers have been mobilised to conduct stringent checks on semiconductor shipments nationwide, a report by The Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the matter, claimed. The initial goal of these inspections was to ensure that local companies stop ordering Nvidia’s China-specific chips, namely the H20 and RTX Pro 6000D AI chipsets, following guidance from Chinese regulators. These Nvidia chips were designed to comply with US export controls and maintain the chipmaker’s market share in China. Now, the inspections have expanded to include all advanced semiconductor products to target the smuggling of high-end chips that violate US export curbs, the report noted. This crackdown highlights Beijing’s focus on weaning its technology sector off American technology and bolstering domestic chipmakers to advance in the AI race.