Singapore has refuted claims that it served as a conduit for illicitly exporting Nvidia chips to Chinese AI giant DeepSeek, following reports that the US is investigating whether advanced semiconductors were rerouted through Singaporean intermediaries.
According to reports, the US Commerce Department is looking into whether DeepSeek has been using US chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China. The claim follows DeepSeek’s new AI app launch, which quickly became one of the most downloaded apps on Apple’s App store and significantly impacted US technology stock values.
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has issued a clarifying statement stressing that it expects US companies to adhere to both US export regulations and Singapore’s legal framework.
It stated: “Questions have arisen over whether DeepSeek gained access to Nvidia chips that were subject to US export controls through intermediaries in Singapore. According to Nvidia’s recent quarterly statement, Singapore accounts for about 22 per cent of its revenue.
“However, Nvidia has stated in its regulatory filing that ‘most shipments associated with Singapore revenue were to locations other than Singapore, and shipments to Singapore were insignificant’. Singapore is an international business hub. Major US and European companies have significant operations here. Nvidia has explained that many of these customers use their business entities in Singapore to purchase chips for products destined for the US and other Western countries.
“Nvidia has also stated that there is no reason to believe that DeepSeek obtained any export-controlled products from Singapore. We expect US companies, like Nvidia, to comply with US export controls and our domestic legislation. Our customs and law enforcement agencies will continue to work closely with their US counterparts. We have always upheld the rule of law, and acted decisively and firmly against individuals and companies that flout the rules.”
According to GraniteShares, a provider of exchange-traded products, as AI technology becomes more accessible, it could drive increased adoption across various industries, potentially boosting demand for high-performance hardware like Nvidia‘s chips.
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