Specifically, the servers contained some of Nvidia's most advanced chips, according to the previously unreported tenders fulfilled between Nov. 20 and Feb. 28. While the U.S. bars Nvidia and its partners from selling advanced chips to China, including via third parties, the sale and purchase of the chips are not illegal in China. Contacted by Reuters, Nvidia said the tenders specify products that were exported and widely available before the restrictions. Daniel Gerkin, a Washington-based partner at law firm Kirkland & Ellis, said Nvidia chips could have been diverted to China without a manufacturer's knowledge, given a lack of visibility into downstream supply chains. It did not respond to subsequent questions about tenders that identified its products as a source of banned Nvidia chips.

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Persons: Wong Yu Liang, Daniel Gerkin, Kirkland, Ellis, Clare Locke, Gigabyte Organizations: Nvidia, Getty, Super Micro Computer Inc, Dell Technologies Inc, Gigabyte Technology, Reuters, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong Artificial Intelligence, Hubei Earthquake Administration, U.S, U.S . Commerce Department, Industry, Security, Super Micro, Dell Locations: China, U.S, Shandong, Hubei, Southwest, Heilongjiang, Washington