McCormick urges tighter China chip controls, seeks testimony on Nvidia allegations

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick called for stronger restrictions on advanced chip exports to China and congressional testimony to establish whether Nvidia broke the law and what Jensen Huang knew about the allegations.

McCormick said maintaining U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence requires continued domestic innovation alongside tighter controls on Chinese access to advanced technology. He also backed questioning Nvidia's leadership under oath about the allegations.

In a Fox Business interview on November 14, McCormick called for more rigorous policies, procedures and legislation to prevent advanced chips and technology from reaching China. The senator, who serves on the Foreign Relations and Banking committees, supported having Huang and Commerce Secretary Lutnick testify before the Banking Committee.

McCormick said he had supported or sponsored measures including the Remote Access Security Act since entering the Senate. Citing his experience overseeing export controls in the Bush administration 21 years ago, he argued that access to American technology gives China a route to developing capabilities that could surpass those of the United States.

He rejected the argument that exporting advanced chips would make China more dependent on the United States. McCormick said China had used American technology to reverse-engineer products and build its own capabilities, alongside a history of intellectual property theft. Huang had openly advocated exports to China on national security grounds during visits to Capitol Hill, McCormick said, but he disagreed with that position.

McCormick identified three questions for congressional scrutiny: whether Nvidia violated any laws with Huang's knowledge; whether the woman discussed in the allegations was a Chinese spy; and, if so, how much Huang knew about that. He said those questions required clear answers before the Banking Committee and the American public.

McCormick acknowledged that he did not know what had happened in the case. Asked whether Huang had particular relationships with China, he said that remained to be established. He described Nvidia as a major American innovation success while arguing that Huang needed to address the allegations.

Recalling his own experience with inaccurate media reporting, McCormick said he would approach the matter objectively. He called for Huang and the commerce secretary to answer questions under oath, saying he would keep an open mind while asking tough questions and expecting substantive answers.