Sep 6, 2022
Titan's Takeaway: Sanctions regarding Nvidia are a direct result of a broader trend of globalization - as China and U.S. trade relations become even more strained, companies who do business between the two may bear the brunt of the burden.
Nvidia is the latest victim in the growing geopolitical tension between U.S and China after the U.S. unveiled a new round of sanctions that involve the innovative chip giant.
In an effort to limit access to cutting edge technology, the U.S. imposed export restrictions on Nvidia’s most advanced artificial intelligence chips.The ban could cost the firm as much as $400 million in sales or 6.8% of revenue in the fiscal third quarter.
Data centers, supercomputers, smartphones and more, all require highly technical chips and Nvidia has led the innovation arms race for many categories over recent years.
It appears the initial sanctions are an effort to keep defense technology in check while sending a message to global powers that the U.S. is not afraid to put strategic interests above the bottom line.
Innovation has traditionally not been bounded by borders, but it’s clear that this trend may not have staying power. Sanctions and trade wars are becoming commonplace and the free market is being interrupted in an effort to protect national interests. Restrictive policy is a result of a highly intertwined global economy, a trend we expect to persist in the coming years.
The impacts of the move can be quantified on a balance sheet, but the precedent may stretch much further than just Nvidia. The sanctions could push China’s own chip manufacturing up a level, with Huawei already doubling down on production. More, other companies such as Taiwan's TSMC, will likely be collateral damage and lose export control as it is a significant manufacturer of Nvidia chips.
As China and U.S. trade relations become even more strained, companies who do business between the two will likely bear the brunt of the burden. For now, semiconductors are the ammunition, but other goods won’t be immune.