Abstract:
According to Bloomberg, the U.S. government is investigating Singaporean logistics company Apex Logistics for allegedly transferring Nvidia AI chips to China. This may be the first time the United States has taken action against a transportation company accused of being involved in the illegal semiconductor trade.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security is investigating whether Apex violated U.S. export controls by transporting AI systems manufactured by Super Micro Computer, people familiar with the matter said. The investigation, which primarily involves freight operations handled in 2024, highlights the role freight companies may play in supply chains that circumvent export restrictions on advanced AI hardware.
Due to national security considerations, the United States will continue to restrict the export of advanced artificial intelligence chips and related equipment to China starting in 2022.
The report stated that this investigation covered 47 batches of goods handled by Apex. The relevant servers are equipped with NVIDIA chips and are suspected to have been shipped from Taiwan to the United States, then through Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, and finally entered mainland China.
Apex stated that the company has been informed of U.S. concerns about a small number of freight transactions and is fully cooperating with the investigation. Its Swiss parent company Kuehne + Nagel also said that its subsidiaries are cooperating with the investigation, but the group itself has not yet received direct contact from U.S. regulatory authorities.
Nvidia stated that the company works with mature partners to ensure that product sales comply with export control requirements; its due diligence procedures have also helped identify suspected attempts to circumvent US regulations.
Comments