U.S. President Donald Trump has been reported to support moves to step up enforcement to prevent circumvention exports of Nvidia semiconductors. Attention is on whether U.S. semiconductor export controls on China will expand beyond direct restrictions to blocking supply chains routed through third countries.

On Nov. 11, blockchain outlet The Defiant reported that Trump has backed a tougher enforcement stance aimed at stopping Nvidia semiconductors from flowing into China via third countries.

The core issue is the level of enforcement of existing export controls. The United States has restricted exports of high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors to China, but indirect deals via third countries have been cited as a major enforcement challenge. There is growing speculation that moves could intensify to block chip inflows not only through direct exports but also through complex distribution networks.

Official confirmation remains limited. The U.S. Commerce Department denied reports of a clash between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. It did not acknowledge the reported internal conflict itself.

No specific export-control document has been confirmed. An independent review of records found no public export-control notice that specified “Megaspeed.” It is therefore unclear whether the measures mentioned in the report led to an executive order or official notice, or remain at a non-public enforcement stage.

Nvidia is central to the issue because AI semiconductors hold a key place in U.S. technology controls on China. Nvidia’s high-performance chips are seen as essential hardware for training AI models and building data centres. Restricting supply to China also aligns with a strategy to maintain U.S. technological advantage.

The industry is watching whether enforcement against circumvention exports will be formalised through rule revisions or additional notices. If sanctions and the scope of investigations expand to target specific distribution channels or companies, it could affect not only Nvidia but also the global semiconductor supply chain.

The report alone makes it difficult to say new export regulations have been finalised. With the Commerce Department’s denial and the absence of any public notice both confirmed, whether there is an actual policy change should be checked through official U.S. government announcements and follow-up explanations from enforcement agencies.

Whether U.S. semiconductor export controls will be strengthened beyond limiting the technology itself to managing distribution routes and the broader supply chain will be a key point to watch.