The global semiconductor market shows the US leading in advanced AI chips, China dominating legacy integrated circuits, and East Asia controlling memory chips. China is also closing the gap in CPUs, intensifying competition and highlighting shifting regional specializations in the industry.
South Korean stocks closed higher Thursday, reversing earlier losses. The KOSPI rose 0.43% driven by retail investors and strong semiconductor export data, while the KOSDAQ surged 4.76%. US inflation data also eased market concerns.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim criticized the Trump administration for potentially allowing advanced AI chips to be exported to overseas units of Chinese firms, urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify before Congress.
US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by top US executives from tech, finance, and manufacturing to discuss critical economic issues
A high-level delegation of business executives is travelling to China with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, with the inclusion of Jensen Huang underscoring how AI chip exports and advanced technology trade are likely to be central to discussions between the two nations.
Sen. Chris Coons pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about Nvidia's H200 AI chip exports to China, citing contradictory statements. Lutnick said the US has not sold any H200 chips to Chinese companies, while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claimed in March that approvals were obtained from both governments. Coons expressed deep concern about national security risks and requested detailed information on licensed and shipped chips within a week.
