美国政府正在调查总部位于新加坡的物流公司 Apex,怀疑该公司涉嫌违反美国出口管制,将含有辉达(Nvidia)人工智慧晶片的伺服器走私至中国。这项调查主要针对美商超微电脑(Super Micro)所制造并搭载辉达晶片的设备,这可能会是美国首次针对涉嫌参与非法半导体交易的运输业者采取法律行动。
据悉,这些涉嫌走私的货物路线相当复杂,硬体设备从台湾出发后,先运往美国,接著转运至中国以外的亚洲地区,然后抵达香港,最后再透过陆路运入中国境内。Apex 涉嫌在二〇二四年期间处理了四十七笔有问题的货物,其中包含两名已离职员工涉嫌使用错误申报代码来规避美国出口管制的货件。(关键数字:47, 2024)
面对美国商务部的调查,Apex 表示已充分配合美方,并承诺会遵循所有相关法规,同时其母公司德迅集团(Kuehne+Nagel)也证实了子公司的配合情况,并指出母公司本身尚未收到调查通知。这起事件显示出美国政府正扩大调查供应链中的运输环节,借此警告物流业者也必须为违反出口管制的行为承担责任。
The US government is investigating Singapore-based Apex Logistics on suspicion of violating US export controls by smuggling servers containing Nvidia artificial intelligence chips into China. The investigation focuses on equipment manufactured by Super Micro Computer that houses Nvidia chips, potentially marking the first time the US takes legal action against a transportation company for alleged involvement in the illegal semiconductor trade.
The suspected smuggling routes for these goods were reportedly complex, with the hardware traveling from Taiwan to the US, then to an Asian destination outside China, before arriving in Hong Kong and finally being transported overland into mainland China. Apex allegedly handled 47 questionable shipments during 2024, involving two former employees who are suspected of using false declaration codes to circumvent US export restrictions.
In response to the investigation by the US Commerce Department, Apex stated that it is fully cooperating with US authorities and has committed to complying with all relevant regulations, while its parent company Kuehne+Nagel confirmed the subsidiary's cooperation and noted that the parent company itself has not been contacted. This incident demonstrates that the US government is expanding its scrutiny to include transportation links within the supply chain, warning logistics providers that they too must bear responsibility for export control violations.