
Treasury Secretary Bessent pursues Commerce Secretary Lutnick, who is cautious about enforcing regulations, over CEO Huang's spying allegations
AI-generated summary
It is suspected that Nvidia's advanced semiconductors are being smuggled into China, and the US government is considering export restrictions. Amid suspicions that CEO Huang was a spy, Treasury Secretary Bessent questioned Commerce Secretary Lutnick about his cautious approach to enforcing regulations.
[Washington Current Affairs] On the 11th, the US news site Axios reported that US Commerce Secretary Lutnick has postponed export restrictions on companies suspected of smuggling Nvidia's cutting-edge semiconductors to China. Amid suspicions of espionage surrounding the company's CEO Huang, Treasury Secretary George Bessent reportedly asked on the 5th why he was being cautious about implementing the move.
NVIDIA board of directors prepares to dismiss CEO Huang - Report
The woman with whom Huang admitted to having an affair is said to be an agent of Chinese intelligence. He was an executive at Singapore's MegaSpeed, which is suspected of being involved in the smuggling of Nvidia semiconductors.
According to reports, Lutnick had a discussion with Bessent, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, and others at the White House on the 5th. When Mr. Bessent asked Mr. Lutnick why he was not enforcing export restrictions on MegaSpeed, Mr. Lutnick claimed that ``a trade war with China is starting.'' All those present who called for regulation objected to this.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Board discussion of dismissal of Nvidia CEO Huang begins in earnest
Likely · Within weeks
Export restrictions on Megaspeed are implemented.
Possible · Within weeks

WSJ reported that the board of US semiconductor giant Nvidia is preparing to dismiss CEO Huang. The FBI has also started an investigation into allegations of infidelity with women who are believed to be agents of the Chinese government.

The Fair Trade Commission applied the ``commitment procedure'' of administrative sanctions to Amazon Japan, which had been asking sellers to lower prices, and approved an improvement plan. Amazon will revise its system that requires ``competitive prices'' and improve its system within six months to display recommendations even if the price is not the lowest.

On the 11th, the Fair Trade Commission approved the improvement plan submitted by Amazon Japan and concluded its investigation into suspected violations of the Antimonopoly Act. The company was suspected of allocating cart boxes to sellers on the condition that they sell for less than the lowest price on other sites.

Family Mart's clothing brand ``Convenience Wear'' began selling collaboration products with former yokozuna Chiyono Fuji in late August, and they became so popular that they quickly disappeared from store shelves in Japan and Taiwan. Creative director Hiroshi Ochiai (49) proposed this to Akimoto Co., Ltd., run by Chiyonofuji's family, with the aim of creating communication across generations through sumo.

The Financial Times reported that the US Department of Commerce has decided not to add Singaporean company MegaSpeed to the export control list. Suspicions of smuggling Nvidia products into China have surfaced, and shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit over the relationship between CEO Huang and a woman who is believed to be an agent. The New York Times reported that President Trump was also briefed on the flight to China. Since 2023, at least $7.5 billion worth of Nvidia semiconductors have gone to Chinese companies.

At a press conference on the 10th, Mayor Tatsuo Igarashi of Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, emphasized the need for business operators to secure financial resources, consider the surrounding environment, and coexist with the local community regarding the two data center construction plans underway in the city. Regarding the plan surrounding the smart IC, the city sought the understanding of landowners, indicated a policy of issuing subsidies to businesses, and explained that the ``Regional Coexistence Guidelines,'' which call for the use of 100% renewable energy, are not legally binding.