Pressure is mounting on US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick following revelations that several government agencies had advocated for months to place Singapore-based firm Megaspeed on the entity list, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In an interview with CNBC, Bessent said multiple agencies "were in favour of putting Megaspeed on the entity list for months," suggesting internal disagreement over the timing of restrictions linked to the Nvidia export controversy. The remarks have intensified scrutiny of Lutnick's handling of export controls, with critics questioning whether political considerations delayed action on a company reportedly tied to diverted advanced semiconductor technology.
The Commerce Department has not issued a detailed response to Bessent's comments, and Lutnick's office declined to elaborate on the timeline of the entity-list decision. Lawmakers from both parties have signalled they may seek testimony on the matter, while trade analysts warn the dispute could complicate ongoing efforts to tighten export enforcement. The White House has publicly backed Lutnick but stopped short of addressing the specific delay alleged by Bessent. The episode underscores growing tensions within the administration over how aggressively to police chip exports to China and allied intermediaries, a sensitive issue for an industry navigating shifting global supply chains and national security priorities.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.