U.S.–China Tech Rivalry Deepens Over Nvidia

The rivalry between the United States and China over advanced technology entered another chapter as China’s market regulator announced a preliminary finding that Nvidia, the American chip giant, had violated its anti-monopoly law.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) did not provide specifics, but pointed to concerns about Nvidia’s commitments during its 2020 acquisition of Israeli chip designer Mellanox Technologies.

Nvidia, best known for powering artificial intelligence systems and gaming platforms, has become a central player in the U.S.–China technology contest. Last year alone, the company reported $17 billion in revenue from China, representing 13 percent of its global sales.

The ongoing investigation could carry fines of up to 10 percent of annual sales and underscores Beijing’s readiness to respond to Washington’s restrictions on advanced chip exports to China.

Those U.S. export curbs were justified on national security grounds, as American officials argue advanced chips are critical to military applications and artificial intelligence dominance.