Nvidia plans China research centre as US export curbs bite, report says
US chipmaker Nvidia is planning to build a research and development centre in Shanghai, the Financial Times reported Friday, as tighter export restrictions imposed by Washington threaten sales in the key Chinese market.
The tougher US controls in recent years have prevented the California-based firm from selling certain AI chips — widely regarded as the most advanced in the world — to China.
As a result, it is now facing tougher competition from local players in the crucial market, including Huawei.
Nvidia boss Jensen Huang discussed plans to set up a research and development centre in Shanghai with its mayor during a visit to the city last month, the FT reported, citing two unnamed people familiar with the matter.
The site would 'research the specific demands of Chinese customers and the complex technical requirements needed to satisfy Washington's curbs', said the report.
It added that 'actual core design and production' would remain outside of China in order to comply with intellectual property transferral regulations.
Nvidia did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment, nor did Shanghai authorities.
During a visit to Beijing in April, Huang met with Vice Premier He Lifeng, telling him that he 'looked favourably upon the potential of the Chinese economy', according to state news agency Xinhua.
Huang said he was 'willing to continue to plough deeply into the Chinese market and play a positive role in promoting US-China trade cooperation', Xinhua said.
The tightened US export curbs come as China's economy wavers, with domestic consumers reluctant to spend and a prolonged property sector crisis weighing on growth.
President Xi Jinping has called for the country to become more self-reliant as uncertainty in the external environment increases.
Xi said last month that China should 'strengthen basic research, focusing our efforts on overcoming challenges in key technologies such as advanced chips and core software, and building an autonomous AI system', according to Xinhua.
Washington has expanded its efforts in recent years to curb exports of state-of-the-art chips to China, concerned that these can be used to advance Beijing's military systems and otherwise undermine US dominance in artificial intelligence.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
33 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
China as global conflict mediator: from ambition to action
China has increasingly taken on the role of conflict mediator on the world stage – hosting negotiations, proposing peace plans and even deploying personnel to oversee ceasefires. Once reluctant to engage in United Nations peacekeeping activities, it now provides more troops than any other permanent member of the Security Council. These are dramatic shifts for a country that was once a staunch advocate of non-interference. As its economic and security interests now reach far beyond its borders, China's engagement on the world stage has understandably grown accordingly. It has a strong incentive to resolve conflicts that threaten its trade, overseas investments, citizens abroad or simply regional stability. The six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, beginning in 2003, marked China's first major foray into multilateral conflict mediation. The talks provide a good example of China's approach to conflict mediation, summarised in its foreign policy lexicon by the phrase '劝和促谈' (persuading for peace and promoting dialogue): while Beijing had no coercive leverage over Pyongyang, it served as a consistent convenor – urging North Korea to halt its nuclear ambitions while pressing the US to address the country's security concerns. North Korean official Choe Ryong-hae (right) speaks with Zhao Leji (left), chairman of the National People's Congress of China, during a reception in Pyongyang last year. Photo: KCNA/KNS via AP China's ambitions are now broader. It has been positioning itself as a leader of the Global South, embracing inclusive multilateralism more than the West.
South China Morning Post
34 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong minibus operators hail arrival of over 800 drivers from mainland China
Hong Kong has brought in more than 800 minibus drivers from mainland China as part of a temporary solution to the city's labour shortage, with operators hopeful the scheme will be extended to help plug gaps in the ageing workforce. Minibus companies made the appeal after authorities reiterated that importing labour was only a 'short-term' fix and that the workers were not meant to stay in the city in the long run. The government launched the labour import scheme in 2023 for three sectors that had been hard hit by manpower shortages. The transport sector has been allowed to recruit up to 900 minibus drivers. The Transport Department said it had approved the applications that it received from operators before March of last year. About 830 drivers had arrived in the city as of April this year, with 800 having completed their training and received driving licences. The workers were given two-year contracts. But minibus operators said they hoped the scheme would be extended to allow the imported drivers to remain employed for as long as possible.
RTHK
an hour ago
- RTHK
CE says SAR to keep free port status regardless
CE says SAR to keep free port status regardless Chief Executive John Lee said free port status, and the zero tariffs that go with it, create trade. File photo: RTHK Chief Executive John Lee on Sunday said he would uphold Hong Kong's free port status and wouldn't retaliate even if China-US relations worsened. Lee made the comments in an interview with South China Morning Post as Chinese and US officials prepare to meet this week in London for more trade talks. Lee said free port status, and the zero tariffs that go with it, create trade. He said this was an integral part of what made Hong Kong successful and it shouldn't be killed off. Referring to US President Donald Trump's global trade war, Lee said "just because somebody has done something wrong, I won't copy him and do wrong things." He also said the SAR government had contingency plans for a worst case scenario, although he declined to say what they were. "I don't want to talk about the worst case scenario because it may not happen," Lee said. "I don't want people to be alarmed." The Chief Executive also said the government would help businesses find new overseas markets.
