U.S. Asks Nvidia To Probe How Chips Reached China | U.S. TikTok Ban Looms

Introduction

The United States Department of Commerce has reportedly requested Nvidia to investigate the distribution of its products that ended up in China over the past year. In response, Nvidia has reached out to major distributors, including Super Micro Computers and Dell Technologies, asking them to conduct spot checks on their customers in Southeast Asia. This inquiry aligns with the Biden Administration's intensifying crackdown on chip exports to China. Last year, the U.S. expanded a ban on selling high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) chips to the nation.

In related news, Democratic Senator Ed Markey and Republican Senator Rand Paul have called on President Joe Biden to extend the January 19 deadline for TikTok's U.S. asset sale by 90 days. This deadline mandates the China-based company ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. assets or face a potential ban. The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will review TikTok and ByteDance's legal challenges, with the companies seeking an injunction to prevent the imminent ban or forced sale. The court has scheduled arguments for January 10.

Furthermore, Amazon has announced it will implement safety measures at all of its U.S. facilities to settle claims from a federal agency that it failed to adequately prevent workers from developing back problems and other ergonomic injuries. This settlement follows a series of complaints filed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) involving ten facilities nationwide, which were set to go to trial before administrative judges next year.

In another development, space startups from Japan and India have agreed to collaborate on a study examining the use of laser-equipped satellites for the removal of debris from Earth's orbit. This experimental initiative aims to address the escalating issue of orbital congestion. Tokyo-based Orbital Lasers and Indian robotics company In Space City will explore various business opportunities for in-space services, which could include deorbiting defunct satellites and extending the life of active spacecraft.

Keywords

Nvidia
China
Department of Commerce
Chip exports
TikTok
Biden Administration
ByteDance
Amazon
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Space debris
Orbital Lasers
In Space City

FAQ

Q1: Why is the U.S. Department of Commerce asking Nvidia to investigate its products' distribution?
A1: The request is part of an ongoing effort to understand how Nvidia's chips ended up in China amid tightened restrictions on chip exports to the country.

Q2: What is the deadline for TikTok's U.S. asset sale?
A2: The deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. assets is January 19. Senators Markey and Paul have called for a 90-day extension of this deadline.

Q3: What legal challenge is TikTok currently facing?
A3: TikTok and ByteDance are involved in a legal challenge against the impending ban and forced sale of TikTok's U.S. assets, with the Supreme Court scheduled to review the case on January 10.

Q4: What actions is Amazon taking in response to ergonomic injury claims?
A4: Amazon has agreed to implement safety measures at its U.S. facilities to settle claims from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regarding worker health and safety.

Q5: What is the goal of the collaboration between Japanese and Indian space startups?
A5: The startups aim to research the potential use of laser-equipped satellites for removing space debris and addressing the issue of orbital congestion.