Lutnick agrees to testify as Bessent blames him for not banning Nvidia chip exports to China-linked firm

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify before Congress after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly blamed Lutnick’s Commerce Department for not restricting Nvidia chip exports to a China-linked firm, according to coverage from AP News and CBS News. The dispute centers on export controls for advanced semiconductors, with Bessent asserting that the Commerce Department failed to act on restrictions involving Nvidia chips destined for a company with ties to China. Lutnick’s agreement to testify follows Bessent’s criticism, setting up a congressional hearing where the two cabinet secretaries’ positions on China technology policy will be examined under oath. AP News reports on Bessent’s blame directed at the Commerce Department, while CBS News frames the story around Lutnick’s decision to agree to testimony amid the escalating interagency disagreement. The coverage does not yet specify which congressional committee will hold the hearing, when the testimony will occur, or which China-linked firm is at the center of the export dispute. The stakes involve U.S. national security policy on advanced artificial intelligence chips and the enforcement of export controls designed to limit China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology. Nvidia’s high-performance chips have been a focal point of U.S. export control debates because of their applications in artificial intelligence and supercomputing, areas where Washington has sought to curb Chinese advancement. The public split between the Treasury and Commerce secretaries signals friction within the administration over how aggressively to restrict technology exports, with Bessent pushing for tighter controls and Lutnick’s department facing scrutiny for its implementation or timing. Readers should watch for the scheduled testimony date, the committee involved, any documents Lutnick produces, and whether the Commerce Department announces new restrictions on Nvidia chip exports following the hearing. Coverage does not indicate whether Nvidia has commented on the dispute or whether the China-linked firm has responded to the allegations.