Top US corporate leaders are lined up to travel with President Donald Trump to China for next week's APEC summit, sources say, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk among those expected to join the presidential delegation. At the same time, the planned participation of Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has become uncertain amid a recent controversy and a board-ordered investigation into whether he was the subject of foreign intelligence activity.
The summit is scheduled for November 18-19 and will be held in Shenzhen, a southern Chinese technology hub. The trip follows earlier engagements in May when several chief executives accompanied the president to China to address business issues.
When asked recently whether he would bring Mr. Huang on the Asia trip next week, President Trump replied: "I don't know, but I'd certainly take him." That comment underlines Huang's visibility in Washington and Silicon Valley circles, even as questions about his attendance remain unresolved.
Background on executive delegations
CEOs who traveled with the president to China in May included Mastercard's Michael Miebach, Tesla's Elon Musk and Jensen Huang. Those earlier meetings were framed around efforts to resolve business frictions with China. Huang's potential inclusion for the upcoming summit was viewed as particularly significant for Nvidia because the company has encountered regulatory obstacles in seeking permission to sell its high-performance H200 AI chips in China.
Investigation and recent developments
On Sunday, Nvidia's board initiated a probe to determine whether Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The board action followed a report alleging that Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who passed information to Beijing. The inquiry and the surrounding reporting have cast doubt on whether Huang will travel with the delegation.
Amid these developments, several companies and the administration did not immediately provide comment when approached outside regular business hours. The parties listed as not responding included Tesla, Mastercard, Nvidia and the White House.
Market context
Market data referenced alongside the developments show Nvidia shares moving lower while Tesla posted gains in the period referenced. The unfolding situation has drawn renewed attention to the relationship between senior US technology executives and the administration, particularly as geopolitically sensitive matters intersect with corporate strategy and regulatory access to key markets.
As the APEC dates approach, the status of Huang's participation remains one of several open questions shaping the delegation and the summit's business agenda.