China tightens chip import checks to curb reliance on Nvidia

BEIJING: China has intensified enforcement of chip import restrictions to cut dependence on US technology, particularly Nvidia’s artificial intelligence processors, the Financial Times reported on Friday (Oct 10). Teams of customs officers have been deployed to major ports to conduct strict inspections of semiconductor shipments. The move follows regulatory directives urging Chinese tech giants, including ByteDance and Alibaba, to stop purchasing and testing Nvidia’s China-specific chips.

Curb reliance on Nvidia

Led by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the campaign has reportedly widened to cover all advanced semiconductor imports. The enforcement comes amid escalating US-China tech tensions, with Washington’s export controls targeting China’s access to high-performance AI chips. Both Nvidia and Chinese customs authorities have yet to comment. Analysts say the tightening underscores Beijing’s push for semiconductor self-sufficiency and the growing impact of geopolitical rivalry on global chip supply chains.

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