The White House is discussing the possible resignation of US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick amid complaints about export controls on the supply of advanced chips. Members of Congress accuse his department of not strictly monitoring exports and delaying the addition of Chinese companies to the trade blacklist. These companies are associated with illegal chip supply.
The pressure was created due to the Nvidia scandal. The Financial Times links the pressure to reports of Jensen Huang's resignation and his contacts with a woman suspected of spying for China. Suspicions do not mean proven guilt, and the dismissal of the minister is still being discussed.
The conflict affects the work of the agency responsible for restrictions on the export of sensitive technologies. Lawmakers' complaints focus on the timing of the bans and the ability to cut off supplies through affiliated companies. For Latnik, it is no longer just one chapter around Nvidia that becomes a political risk, but an assessment of the entire export control system.