The Indicator from Planet Money Nvidia chips for China, frozen Russian funds, and a lot of self-checkout stealing
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Dec 12, 2025 This week delves into the U.S. approval of NVIDIA chips for China, igniting discussions on tech dependency and self-reliance. The potential $192 billion EU loan to Ukraine raises eyebrows over frozen Russian assets and the political hurdles in play. Meanwhile, a startling 27% of shoppers admit to self-checkout theft, citing high prices as their justification. Retailers are forced to reconsider self-checkout systems as the balance between convenience and theft becomes increasingly challenging.
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U.S. Allows Advanced NVIDIA Chips To China
- The U.S. approved NVIDIA H200 chips for sale to China while taking a 25% cut of the sales revenue.
- These H200s are advanced but not the most cutting-edge, and the move may increase Chinese dependence on U.S. chips.
Dependence Argument Faces A Strong Counter
- NVIDIA argues selling chips creates dependence of Chinese firms on American hardware.
- Critics say China is already pouring resources into domestic chips, so dependence may be temporary or limited.
EU Plans Reparations-Backed Loan For Ukraine
- The EU is considering a $192 billion reparations-style loan for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.
- The plan would borrow against frozen assets and repay lenders if and when Russia pays reparations.