Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Called to Testify on China Chip Sales

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been invited to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on June 11, as lawmakers intensify scrutiny of the chipmaker's business in China and its compliance with U.S. export controls.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., extended the invitation in a letter requesting Huang confirm his attendance by Monday. The hearing would provide an opportunity for Huang to address Nvidia's position on export control regulations and its commercial activities in China, according to details first reported by CNBC.

Export Controls at the Center

The invitation comes as both Democratic and Republican lawmakers express concern about advanced U.S. semiconductor technology reaching China. Nvidia manufactures the graphics processing units that power most cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems, positioning the company at the heart of debates over technology transfer and national security.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations have implemented restrictions aimed at limiting China's access to advanced AI chips. Nvidia has countered that excessively restrictive policies could harm American competitiveness and drive international customers toward non-U.S. suppliers.

Warren outlined her concerns in a Wednesday appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box," emphasizing that the chips in question serve military applications in China rather than purely commercial purposes. "The Chinese, in effect, buy our stuff, and American companies make a profit doing that," Warren said. "But it certainly undermines our long-term security."

Bipartisan Pressure Building

The Senate hearing request aligns with separate efforts by House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee, who are calling for an investigation into what they characterize as Chinese interference with U.S. AI and data center development.

The timing is notable: Huang recently accompanied President Donald Trump to China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring Nvidia's significant commercial interests in the region while Washington debates how to balance economic and security priorities.

Why it matters

Nvidia's market dominance in AI chips makes it a critical player in both technological competition with China and domestic AI development. How Congress and the executive branch navigate export controls will shape whether the U.S. maintains its semiconductor leadership while managing national security risks—a balance that affects the entire AI industry's trajectory.

Warren also used the CNBC interview to advocate for broader AI policy measures, including an excise tax on data centers to fund social programs and worker retraining. "We're talking about enormous disruption in ways that we can't anticipate," she said. "Now is the moment to get ahead of that."

The details of the Senate Banking Committee invitation and Warren's comments were first reported by CNBC.