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US Servers in Singapore Fraud Case May Contain Nvidia Chips, Minister Says

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Servers involved in a fraud case recently announced by Singapore were supplied by U.S. firms and may contain advanced Nvidia chips, Singapore’s Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said on Monday.

Three men, including a Chinese national, were charged last week in Singapore with fraud linked to these servers. The servers, supplied by Dell Technologies and Super Micro Computer to companies based in Singapore, were then sent to Malaysia, though it is unclear if Malaysia was the final destination.

Shanmugam noted the authorities are investigating the case independently following an anonymous tip-off. Singapore has asked U.S. officials to confirm if the servers contained U.S. export-controlled items and expressed willingness to cooperate in any joint investigation.

This case is part of a broader investigation involving 22 individuals and companies suspected of false representation, amid concerns over organized smuggling of AI chips, particularly to China. The U.S. is probing whether Chinese company DeepSeek used U.S. chips prohibited from export to China. Earlier reports revealed that Chinese research institutions obtained Nvidia’s advanced AI chips embedded in servers made by Dell, Super Micro, and Gigabyte Technology.

Singapore is Nvidia’s second-largest market after the U.S., accounting for 18% of Nvidia’s latest fiscal year revenue, though actual shipments to Singapore represent less than 2% since the country functions largely as an invoicing hub.

Some AI industry figures, like Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, allege DeepSeek has as many as 50,000 higher-end Nvidia chips banned for export to China, though these claims remain unverified. DeepSeek stated it legally purchased Nvidia H800 chips in 2023 and disclosed use of Nvidia A100 chips in its supercomputing AI cluster.

Dell stated it enforces strict trade compliance and takes action if customers violate obligations but declined further comment due to the ongoing investigation. Super Micro affirmed compliance with U.S. export controls and said it investigates any unauthorized re-exports. Nvidia declined to comment, and DeepSeek has not responded to requests for comment.

U.S. Eases Chip Software and Ethane Export Curbs Amid China Trade Truce

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The United States has lifted export restrictions on chip design software and ethane to China, signaling further de-escalation of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The move follows Beijing’s agreement to ease controls on rare earth exports—a key concession that helped maintain a fragile trade truce.

Restrictions Reversed

Leading electronic design automation (EDA) software firms—Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems, and Siemens—confirmed they are resuming sales and support for Chinese customers after receiving notification from the U.S. Department of Commerce that prior restrictions have been revoked.

  • Siemens announced Thursday it has restarted business operations in China, causing its shares to rise 1.7% after market opening.

  • Synopsys said it plans to restore customer access within three business days.

The EDA tools, essential for advanced semiconductor design, are dominated by these three firms, which together control over 70% of China’s market, according to Xinhua.

Ethane Export Curbs Also Rescinded

On the same day, the U.S. government also notified ethane producers that licensing requirements imposed in May and June had been withdrawn, allowing resumption of exports to China.

These curbs had been part of a broader U.S. response to China’s April suspension of rare earth exports, which had disrupted global supply chains for automakers, aerospace firms, chipmakers, and military contractors.

The Bigger Picture: Rare Earths for Rollbacks

According to a source familiar with the internal U.S. strategy, the Biden administration took a calculated step:

“The U.S. have escalated to de-escalate. They put restrictions on many more items in order to get the Chinese to back off on rare earths.”

Following negotiations, both sides reportedly confirmed a framework agreement in which:

  • China will review export applications for sensitive goods,

  • And the U.S. will roll back countermeasures imposed earlier this year.

China’s Commerce Ministry affirmed the arrangement last Friday, paving the way for what analysts describe as a return to February-March status quo.

Remaining Uncertainties

Despite the rollback on EDA tools and ethane, it remains unclear whether the U.S. has also lifted other strategic restrictions, including:

  • GE Aerospace’s license suspension for jet engine exports to COMAC’s C919 aircraft,

  • Or limitations on nuclear equipment suppliers selling to Chinese power plants.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has not yet commented on the latest developments.

Outlook

With both countries aiming to stabilize economic relations amid broader geopolitical tensions, more trade rollbacks could follow—particularly if the framework agreement holds. However, sector-specific restrictions tied to national security concerns are likely to remain or evolve in other forms.

Malaysia Investigates Chinese Firm’s Use of Nvidia AI Chips Amid Export Controls

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Malaysia’s trade ministry is currently investigating reports that a Chinese company operating in the country is using Nvidia AI chips and servers for training large language models, according to a ministry statement on Wednesday. The inquiry aims to determine if any domestic laws or regulations have been violated.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Chinese engineers arrived in Malaysia in early March carrying suitcases filled with hard drives. They were reportedly working to develop AI models using data centers equipped with Nvidia chips.

These developments come against the backdrop of U.S. restrictions on exports of advanced AI chips, introduced during the Biden administration, which capped the number of AI chips Malaysia could receive. Though the Trump administration later rescinded these curbs, it issued guidance emphasizing licensing requirements if AI chip use is linked to weapons of mass destruction.

Malaysia’s ongoing verification reflects growing global scrutiny over technology transfer and AI development involving Chinese entities.