U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday that there was a growing consensus in Congress on limiting chip exports to China. The push followed a spy scandal that forced Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to step down after reports of a romantic relationship with a businesswoman whom U.S. authorities suspect of spying for the Chinese government.

Lawmakers from both parties have since called for tougher restrictions on China's access to advanced artificial intelligence chips. The measures would threaten access to chips that underpin China's surging AI development, putting Nvidia's products at the centre of the dispute between Washington and Beijing.S1S2

The political pressure has spread into the executive branch as well. Two people familiar with the situation said senior White House officials were discussing whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should be pushed out, as the desire to take action rose across Washington.S2